The Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) has unveiled a nationwide civic education campaign aimed at enhancing public awareness of government programs, services, and leadership roles.
Dubbed “Manya Gov’t Yaawe” (Know Your Government), the initiative seeks to bridge the information gap among citizens while promoting accountability and informed participation in governance.
The campaign comes on the heels of the recently concluded general elections, during which PLU, under its Tuko Pamoja mobilization drive, played a key role in supporting candidates from the National Resistance Movement (NRM) across the country.
Having secured what it describes as a resounding electoral victory, the League says it is now shifting focus toward empowering wananchi with knowledge of how government works and how to access public services.
PLU leaders say their post-election engagements across various districts revealed a worrying trend—many citizens remain unaware of government programs, achievements, and the procedures required to benefit from them.
Henry Basaliza, the PLU Coordinator for the Tooro sub-region and a Central Executive Committee (CEC) member, emphasized the need for immediate intervention through structured civic education.
“We realized that many people do not understand government programs, yet these programs are meant to improve their livelihoods. This campaign is about taking that information directly to the people,” Basaliza said.
Under the initiative, PLU teams will be deployed across districts in Tooro to conduct community engagements and host radio talk shows aimed at simplifying government policies and services.
The campaign will also highlight key achievements registered since 1986, while outlining government priorities and planned interventions in the coming years.
“We are going to explain what government has achieved over the years and what is planned for the future so that citizens can appreciate progress and also demand better services where necessary,” he added.
Beyond raising awareness, the campaign will also serve as a platform for accountability. PLU says it intends to remind leaders of their commitments while encouraging citizens to actively demand service delivery.
“This is not just about praising achievements. We shall also address unfulfilled pledges and ensure leaders are held accountable by the people they serve,” Basaliza noted.
Leaders also observed that confusion over roles and responsibilities among public officials has contributed to inefficiencies in service delivery, with some citizens placing expectations on leaders outside their mandates.
Kasukali Mitusera, the Member of Parliament-elect for Mwenge Central, underscored the importance of clarifying these roles.
“Many people do not clearly understand the roles of different leaders. This campaign will help citizens know who is responsible for what, so they can demand services from the right offices,” Mitusera said.
Organizers believe the Know Your Government campaign will not only increase awareness but also strengthen citizen participation, enhance transparency, and ultimately improve service delivery across communities.
As PLU rolls out the initiative in Tooro and beyond, its success will largely depend on how effectively it translates information into meaningful engagement between leaders and the citizens they serve.
