Ugandans head to the polls on July 28 and 10 August 10 to elect their Local Council I and II leaders, with campaigns already in full swing across the country. Yet beyond the usual campaign posters and rallies, one candidacy has sparked an unexpected national conversation.
Engineer Steven Kaweesi's decision to abandon a parliamentary bid in favour of contesting for an LC1 chairperson seat has drawn mixed reactions, particularly on social media. To many, it appeared that an accomplished professional was settling for a position beneath his qualifications. But perhaps the more important question is not why an engineer would choose to lead at the village level. It is why so many of us assume that grassroots leadership is somehow beneath Uganda's best minds.
Legally, any eligible Ugandan can contest for the office of LC1 chairperson, regardless of academic qualifications. Yet the debate surrounding Engineer Kaweesi's decision reveals a deeper perception held by many: that local council leadership is a stepping stone to "bigger" political offices rather than a meaningful leadership position in its own right.
This is not the first time highly trained professionals have ventured into politics. The recently concluded elections saw professors, medical doctors, engineers, lawyers and other professionals leave successful careers to contest for positions as Members of Parliament, district chairpersons, mayors and councillors. Society often applauds such decisions because these offices are viewed as prestigious. Ironically, the same enthusiasm fades when an equally qualified person chooses to serve at the grassroots.
The truth is that leadership does not become more valuable because it is exercised from a higher office. If anything, the quality of national leadership is often determined by the strength of leadership at the community level. Every effective government begins with effective local governance.
Many educated Ugandans possess skills that are desperately needed in local leadership. Their experience in planning, financial management, policy interpretation, project implementation and stakeholder engagement can strengthen accountability, improve service delivery and mobilise communities around shared development goals. Their professional networks can also attract partnerships and resources that directly benefit their villages.
Yet political absenteeism among many educated Ugandans remains a persistent challenge. While politics influences nearly every aspect of our daily lives, many professionals choose to remain observers rather than participants.
Some believe the political environment is too polarised. Others feel their preferred candidates or parties do not adequately represent their views. Many cite demanding careers, long journeys to their polling stations or the opportunity cost of spending hours in voting queues. Others simply believe elections no longer produce meaningful change.
These concerns are understandable. However, withdrawing from the political process does not improve it. When capable citizens choose not to participate—whether as voters or leaders—they leave critical decisions in the hands of those willing to step forward. It also weakens their moral authority to criticise outcomes they had an opportunity to influence.
This reality is especially important at the local council level, where leadership has an immediate and visible impact on people's lives. The LC1 chairperson is more than the signatory of recommendation letters. As provided for under Uganda's Local Governments Act, the office serves as the political and administrative head of the village, coordinating local governance and overseeing community affairs.
LC1 leaders help maintain security, mediate disputes, mobilise residents for government programmes, coordinate community responses during emergencies and support access to essential public services. They are often the first point of contact between citizens and government. Long before national policies are debated in Parliament, they are being translated into action within villages through local leadership.
Community development has consistently shown that initiatives driven by local participation are more sustainable than those imposed from outside. Local leaders understand the unique culture, priorities and challenges of their communities. They are better placed to identify vulnerable households, mobilise residents and ensure that programmes such as the Parish Development Model, Emyooga and other government initiatives reach those they are intended to serve.
Strong local leadership also builds trust. It encourages citizen participation, strengthens social cohesion and creates shared ownership of community development. During public health emergencies, natural disasters or economic shocks, it is often the village leadership structure that responds first, long before support arrives from higher levels of government.
As Uganda prepares for these Local Council elections, perhaps it is time to rethink how we measure leadership. We should not judge a leader by the size of the office they occupy, but by the difference they make in the lives of the people they serve.
The future of Uganda's leadership will not be built in Parliament alone. It will be built in our villages, trading centres and communities, where citizens experience government most directly. If we truly desire better governance, stronger institutions and sustainable development, then educated Ugandans must not only vote—they must also be willing to lead where leadership matters most.
Anthony B Kiiza is a community activist from Bubaare town Council Rubanda
anthonykiiza5@gmail.com