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ICT and National Guidance Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi talking to reporters at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala
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The Local Government Act is set to be amended to allow National Resistance Movement (NRM) party chairpersons to join district, city, sub-county, municipal, and town councils as ex-officio members.
ICT and National Guidance Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi told reporters at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala today that the Cabinet, during a sitting at State House Entebbe on Monday, approved the amendment to the Act. “We reiterated our earlier position to amend the Local Government Act to allow the chairperson for the ruling party at the district, sub-county, and lower local government levels to sit in their respective councils as ex-officio members,” Baryomunsi said. He added, “Given that the NRM is leading, we are going to amend the law to provide for the NRM chairperson at the district, sub-county, and lower levels to join their respective councils.”
According to the minister, this will enable the ruling party to monitor resources allocated to local governments and track the implementation of the NRM manifesto. "This is how it works elsewhere," he said. "The party in power has representatives in administrative councils to trace the resources sent to the population."
The NRM Secretary General, Richard Todwong, currently sits in Cabinet, providing a link between the party and the government. In November 2021, the NRM party website quoted Todwong as saying they were working on introducing this amendment.
"As the NRM, our responsibility should not stop at electing a government into power. We should also be empowered with direct representation in councils to create a platform for follow-up and implementation of our manifesto," Todwong said. "In cases of project failure, the blame often falls on the government rather than on technocrats or civil servants, causing ripple effects over time."
Todwong said that NRM officials should also be empowered with direct representation in councils to create a platform for follow-up and implementation of the manifesto
Salongo Namwanja Muwadda, the NRM chairperson of Masulita sub-county in Wakiso district, praised the government and the party for working to ensure NRM chairpersons join councils.
"The President is frustrated by the lack of effective service delivery in local governments," Muwadda said. "As loyal party members, we can effectively monitor how funds sent to districts and sub-counties are utilized."
He lamented that corruption and mismanagement were undermining the party’s popularity, noting, “Money meant for service delivery doesn’t reach the intended beneficiaries and projects. There’s corruption and bureaucracy. But when we join, we can save our party and government from this.”
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