MENGO — The Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, has urged county chiefs across the Kingdom to guide voters in choosing capable Local Council leaders who will serve communities and work closely with Buganda’s local leadership structures.
Mayiga made the call at Bulange, Mengo, during a meeting with the 18 Buganda county chiefs and their deputies to review the performance and administration of the Kingdom’s counties.
With Uganda preparing for Local Council I and II chairperson elections and Women Council committee polls, the Katikkiro said voters should choose leaders whose priority is public service rather than personal interests.
"Guide the Kabaka's subjects to elect leaders who will genuinely serve them and work together with the Kingdom's local leaders, not those who seek leadership for personal gain," Mayiga said.
Ugandans will elect local council chairpersons at the village level later this month. It comes after years of the government repeatedly postponing the process over several reasons - including financial constraints.
The meeting also discussed the performance of Buganda’s counties, with Chairperson of the Buganda County Chiefs’ Council, Kangawo Dr Ronald Mulondo, reporting improved unity among county chiefs.
However, Mulondo identified weak coordination between some Buganda Kingdom institutions and county structures as a challenge affecting the implementation of programmes at local level.
"Unity among the county chiefs has grown stronger, but coordination between some Kingdom institutions and the counties remains a major challenge," he said.
Mayiga urged the chiefs to strengthen communication among themselves, warning that poor coordination could lead to unnecessary disagreements.
"County chiefs must maintain strong communication with one another because a lack of coordination can easily lead to conflict and misunderstandings," he said.
He also encouraged the leaders to embrace technology to improve service delivery and strengthen engagement with the Kabaka’s subjects.
"Technology should be embraced to improve service delivery and enable leaders to listen more effectively to the people they serve," Mayiga said.
The Katikkiro further urged county chiefs to prioritise parish and sub-county Kingdom officials, describing them as the foundation of Buganda’s administration because of their close interaction with communities.
He asked the chiefs to welcome leaders from all political parties into their counties without discrimination, provided they respect the Kabaka and the institution of the Kingdom.
Mayiga said inclusiveness would strengthen Buganda’s unity and cooperation with different communities.
During the meeting, the Katikkiro handed tablets to deputy county chiefs to support the management and coordination of Kingdom activities.
The county chiefs, including Kaggo Hajj Ahmed Matovu Magandaazi and Katambala Hajj Sulaiman Magala, welcomed the guidance and pledged to implement the recommendations.
