Government Directs Nationwide Street Naming Exercise by August 30

KAMPALA | The Ministry of Local Government has issued a stern directive to all urban local authorities across Uganda to officially name every single street and road in their jurisdictions by August 30, 2026.

Following the naming phase, all municipalities and cities must ensure that approved signage is fully installed by September 5, 2026.

The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Ben Kumumanya, told the media that this massive nationwide urban addressing exercise is long overdue, highlighting its critical role in modernizing local administration.

The sweeping directive follows strategic guidance issued by the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Senior Presidential Adviser on Special Operations, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

A Boost for Security, Navigation, and Economy

Addressing local government leaders—including LC V chairpersons, city mayors, municipal mayors, and sub-county chiefs—PS Kumumanya emphasized that modernizing Uganda’s addressing system is a critical pillar for national development and security.

Supporting this stance, the Minister of Local Government, Hon. Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, detailed the practical benefits of the initiative:

“Proper naming of streets and roads will greatly assist in easy location, emergency response, security operations, service delivery, urban planning, investment, and other important national operations.”

The directive directly targets long-standing navigation challenges, particularly in rapidly growing and often unplanned urban centers where many roads remain unnamed or inconsistently identified. Establishing formal street names is expected to drastically improve response times for law enforcement and medical emergencies, streamline postal deliveries, and boost local commerce.

Honoring Heroes and Ugandan Heritage

Under the new guidelines, local government councils have been strongly urged to move away from legacy colonial names and prioritize identities that reflect Uganda’s rich history, culture, and achievements.

Local authorities are expected to pass council resolutions honoring:

• Traditional rulers, cultural leaders, and kings.

• National Resistance Army (NRA) liberation struggle heroes.

• Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) heroes.

• Former presidents and eminent national leaders.

• Outstanding citizens in public service, science, business, sports, and the arts.

The approved lists of names, backed by formal council resolutions, must be forwarded directly to the Office of the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Local Government before the late-August deadline.

Entebbe Already on the Move

Speaking on the sidelines of a sensitization session broadcast by UBC TV Uganda, the Mayor of Entebbe Municipality, Fabrice Rulinda, welcomed the directive, revealing that his administration has already hit the ground running.

According to Mayor Rulinda, Entebbe has embarked on a comprehensive mapping and naming exercise to bring order to the historic lakeside town.

“We have already started this process in Entebbe to ensure our people have a clear way to identify where things are and can operate efficiently,” Rulinda said. “A properly addressed municipality is not just about security; it is about making business, tourism, and daily navigation seamless for everyone.”

Race Against Time for Local Leaders

Beyond street naming, Minister Barugahara also used the platform to issue a strong reminder on sanitation, urging municipal leaders to step up efforts to keep their towns clean.

“A clean environment reflects good leadership, effective service delivery, and respect for our citizens,” the minister said.

The twin demands of naming thousands of unnamed roads and sanitizing urban areas are expected to trigger a frantic race against time for city administrators across the country. Local officials have expressed commitment to meeting the tight deadlines while ensuring community input in the naming process.