The conclusion of the Local Council II elections on August 10, 2026, marks another important milestone in restoring Uganda’s grassroots leadership structures. I congratulate all Ugandans who participated in the elections and commend the National Resistance Movement for its strong performance, following the victory recorded in the LC1 elections. However, the true value of these elections will not be measured by political victories alone, but by whether the newly elected leaders can translate that mandate into better livelihoods, stronger communities and greater household incomes.
LC2 leaders occupy a critical position in Uganda’s governance system because they are closest to the people. They know the households, the businesses, the farmers, the young people and the challenges within their communities. This places them in a unique position to monitor Government programmes and ensure that public resources achieve their intended purpose. Their responsibilities must therefore extend beyond chairing meetings, resolving disputes and mobilising communities. They must become champions of production, enterprise, accountability and socio-economic transformation.
The Parish Development Model and other wealth-creation programmes such as Emyooga and GROW provide important opportunities for Ugandans to enter and expand their participation in the money economy. LC2 leaders must ensure that beneficiaries understand that Government funding is development capital, not money meant for consumption. Their responsibility should continue after funds are disbursed by following up on how the money is invested, identifying challenges and reporting failures or misuse. The success of these programmes should ultimately be judged by how many households increase their incomes, create enterprises and improve their standard of living.
The employment challenge also demands a change in mindset. Uganda’s working-age population is far larger than the number of jobs available in the public sector, meaning Government alone cannot employ every young person entering the labour market. Our young people must therefore be encouraged to see themselves not only as job seekers but also as potential employers and entrepreneurs. The boda boda rider, farmer, carpenter, mechanic, tailor, shopkeeper, food vendor, builder, hairdresser and small trader who creates an income for themselves and perhaps employs another person is already contributing to Uganda’s economic growth.
Our task now should be to help these small enterprises grow from survival ventures into sustainable businesses. Formalisation, access to finance, markets, technology and business knowledge can enable informal enterprises to expand and create more jobs. Institutions such as the Uganda Registration Services Bureau and the Uganda Revenue Authority have an important role to play in supporting this transition. Local leaders should help citizens understand these opportunities rather than allowing fear, misinformation or bureaucratic obstacles to discourage them from formalising their businesses.
I make a special appeal to Uganda’s youth, particularly university graduates, to reconsider the idea that academic qualifications must automatically lead to a Government or office job. A degree should be a foundation for innovation, enterprise and problem-solving, not a ticket to waiting indefinitely for employment. An agricultural graduate can commercialise farming, an ICT graduate can build a technology company, an accountant can establish a consultancy, an engineer can create an engineering firm and a teacher can develop an education enterprise. Our country needs professionals, but it equally needs skilled technicians, welders, mechanics, electricians, plumbers, builders, tailors, farmers, artisans and entrepreneurs.
I commend President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for consistently promoting vocational and technical education through industrial hubs and other skilling initiatives. Practical skills give young people the ability to turn knowledge into income, establish enterprises and create employment for others. University education and vocational training should therefore be viewed as complementary pillars of national development. What Uganda needs is a workforce equipped with both academic knowledge and practical skills capable of driving production, innovation and enterprise.
As Minister for the Presidency, I will continue monitoring the implementation of PDM and other Government programmes, beginning with other parts of Buyende District before extending the exercise to other areas of the country. These monitoring tours are intended to strengthen accountability, identify bottlenecks and ensure that Government interventions reach the intended beneficiaries. The elections are now behind us; the real test begins today. I therefore call upon all LC2 leaders to embrace the spirit of “No sleeping, no corruption”, protect public resources and turn their electoral mandate into a mandate for production, wealth creation and employment. If we succeed at the grassroots, we shall move closer to building the prosperous Uganda we want for ourselves and generations to come.
The author is the Minister for the Presidency and Member of Parliament for Budiope West.
