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By Bruno Mugizi
Bushenyi
Bushenyi District Council has adopted the Local Economic Development (LED) policy in a move aimed at transforming identified public assets into viable economic ventures that can stimulate development, create jobs, and improve livelihoods within the district. The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Bushenyi, Sanyu Phionah, revealed that the district is currently drafting documents that will be submitted to relevant ministries for scrutiny and endorsement before the district engages the public for final implementation.
"We are moving forward to draft documents for scrutiny by the relevant ministries before involving the general public in the final implementation process," Sanyu said.
Bushenyi district CAO Sanyu chairing the meeting
She made the remarks during a stakeholders' engagement meeting held on Friday May 30, at the district headquarters. The meeting focused on the implementation of LED, as well as how local governments can collaborate with the private sector and communities under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to drive economic growth.
Bushenyi District Chairperson Jaffari Bassajjabalaba applauded the move, saying it aligns well with the Ministry of Local Government's decentralization approach, which mandates district leadership, technical teams, and stakeholders to identify opportunities that can boost local revenue generation.
"As a district, we want to fully engage our community in this Local Economic Development program, especially in areas like tourism, hospitality, and recreational centers, so we can work together to spur local resource mobilization and wealth creation," Bassajjabalaba said.
Bushenyi district commercial officer Hope Komujuni giving her remarks during the meeting
The Ministry of Local Government (MoLG) is implementing the LED policy nationwide to promote a vibrant, private-sector-led local economy aimed at reducing poverty, creating wealth, and improving prosperity. The policy, introduced in 2014, encourages partnerships between local governments, the private sector, and communities to effectively mobilize and invest resources in development ventures that benefit local populations.
The LED approach represents a bottom-up economic strategy that empowers local governments to take the lead in initiating and managing development projects. The MoLG's role is to guide, harmonize, mentor, and advocate for local governments to ensure successful implementation of the policy and achieve socio-economic transformation across the country.
Apollo Lee Kakonge, the Chief Executive Officer of the Western Ankole Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), emphasized the importance of stakeholder collaboration in ensuring the success of the policy.
"There is a need for district leadership and stakeholders to fully embrace and implement LED projects under the PPP model to enhance local revenue generation, develop tourism, and improve infrastructure," Kakonge said.
He added that the implementation of LED would also significantly improve service delivery across the district. "With increased local revenue, we can improve roads, health facilities, and other essential public services that directly benefit our communities," he noted.
WACSOF executive director Kakonge Apollo remarking
Bushenyi District has already identified several priority projects under the LED framework. These include upgrading Kizinda Market into a modern market facility, transforming Bushenyi playground into a multipurpose stadium, redeveloping district houses and plantations into modern apartments, converting the district multipurpose hall into a recreational center, turning the district parking yard into a shopping mall, commercializing Ruhandagazi fish farm into a fish fry center, and developing the Nshumi PDA land in Kyamuhunga into a market.
District leaders are optimistic that with the successful implementation of these projects, Bushenyi will see increased local revenue, job creation, and improved service delivery, setting a precedent for effective local economic transformation.
"By transforming our local assets into economic ventures, we aim to stimulate development, create jobs, and enhance the livelihoods of our community members," Sanyu concluded.
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