LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOCUS: Kumumanya credits Museveni for decentralisation

What the report says

In an interview published by Watchdog Uganda, Ministry of Local Government Permanent Secretary Ben Kumumanya outlined Uganda’s decentralisation policy and said it was designed to bring decision-making closer to communities. He argued that local people should help shape priorities for roads, schools, healthcare and other basic services rather than having choices made entirely at higher levels of government. The discussion took place during an induction for newly elected local council leaders in Makindye-Ssabagabo Municipality.

Kumumanya credited President Yoweri Museveni’s government for advancing decentralised governance and said the system has expanded opportunities for citizens to take part in local decision-making through elected representatives. He linked the importance of the policy to the 2026 elections for local leaders, saying those chosen by voters should understand their mandate, attend council sessions, approve budgets and monitor projects on behalf of residents.

He also stressed that elected leaders must work with technical officers, since councils set policy while professionals help implement programmes and provide guidance. A central theme of the interview was accountability: Kumumanya said public resources should be used for community benefit, not personal interests, and that local leaders have a duty to oppose corruption and respond to complaints about poor service delivery.

The interview reflects a broader governance debate in Uganda about whether decentralisation is delivering stronger local services and accountability. While the article focuses on Kumumanya’s views, it suggests that the effectiveness of the system depends not only on laws and institutions but also on how responsibly local officials exercise their powers.