Nakyobe Ignites a Leadership Revolution in Uganda’s Local Governments

By David Mwanje

Kampala- At the Grand Imperial Hotel today, Ms. Lucy Nakyobe, Head of Public Service, lit a fire under Uganda’s local government accounting officers, demanding they embrace bold, hands-on leadership. Addressing Chief Administrative Officers and Town Clerks, she pushed them to break free from bureaucratic routines and champion innovative solutions that directly tackle community needs.

“Don’t just sit in your offices make your presence felt,” Nakyobe urged, her voice cutting through the room. She envisioned local leaders as trailblazers, driving change by aligning their work with the pulse of their communities. Her call to action was both a challenge and an inspiration, urging officers to rethink their roles as stewards of progress.

Permanent Secretary Mr. Ben Kumumanya kicked off the meeting with a no nonsense directive, laying out key priorities streamline recruitment, root out corruption, modernize local revenue systems, prioritize road upkeep, and bolster oversight of extension services. He also encouraged leaders to empower their deputies to monitor grassroots staff and ensure service delivery hits the mark.

As Uganda’s local governments grapple with tight budgets and rising public expectations, Nakyobe’s rallying cry could spark a new era of accountability and innovation. The question now is whether these accounting officers will seize the moment to transform their districts and cities or remain tethered to the status quo. Today’s meeting may well be remembered as the spark that ignited a new breed of local government leadership.