Otimong says municipality collected Shs3.8 billion in the first quarter as local government leaders are urged to strengthen accountability and service delivery
By Brian Mugenyi
MAKINDYE-SSABAGABO — Makindye-Ssabagabo Municipality Town Clerk Moses Otimong has applauded the Ministry of Local Government, led by Permanent Secretary Ben Kumumanya, for mentorship and leadership training aimed at strengthening local administration, saying the municipality collected Shs3.8 billion in local revenue during the first quarter of the 2026/2027 financial year.
In an interview on Thursday, Otimong said the municipality collected the revenue in July, August and September, attributing the performance to efforts to strengthen accountability, transparency and the capacity of local leaders to support service delivery.
“We have so far collected Shs3.8 billion in July, August and September in the first quarter,” Otimong said.
He made the remarks as local council leaders from 55 villages, eight parishes and three divisions participated in an induction programme aimed at strengthening their leadership and administrative skills.
Otimong said the training would help local leaders understand their responsibilities and mobilise communities to participate in development.
“Good governance, transparency and accountability are important, and we are going to start barazas so that we are able to improve service delivery. I also want to thank the fourth estate for disseminating information,” he said.
He said community meetings would give residents opportunities to raise concerns and engage leaders on issues affecting service delivery.
Decentralisation and community participation
Otimong said decentralisation continues to evolve, requiring local government leaders to strengthen dialogue and cooperation to bring public services closer to citizens.
“The role of decentralisation is changing shape, and us in Greater Kampala, we talk to many local leaders. The dialogue with the Permanent Secretary on decentralisation is aimed at extending social services to the people,” he said.
He added that the induction was intended to help leaders mobilise residents and understand the challenges affecting their communities.
“We want to use this induction to ensure the leaders mobilise people and ensure the wananchi understand the problems of the people,” Otimong said.
He also called for renewed attention to the responsibilities of LC1 leaders, particularly in community mobilisation, dispute resolution and promoting hygiene.
“We want to thank the administrative officials of LC1 for helping leaders understand the role of LC1 leadership and dispute resolution. Communities are being torn apart because there is no leadership to guide the people,” he said.
Otimong said village leaders were important in resolving local disputes before they escalated and in ensuring residents had an avenue to raise concerns.
He urged local leaders to encourage villages to compete in maintaining cleanliness, arguing that improved hygiene could help prevent diseases associated with poor sanitation.
He also called for greater community awareness of the importance of paying taxes and supporting services funded through local revenue.
Ministry warns against corruption
Permanent Secretary Kumumanya called on local leaders to embrace accountability and make service delivery a priority in their communities.
He credited the leadership of Makindye-Ssabagabo Municipality for efforts to improve local government performance.
“I want to accredit the current leadership of Makindye-Ssabagabo Municipality. Under the new mayor, they have good leadership,” Kumumanya told the LC1 leaders.
He said decentralisation should be treated as an important mechanism for ensuring that government services reach citizens, adding that local leaders have a role in monitoring programmes and identifying challenges affecting implementation.
Kumumanya also highlighted the responsibility of LC1 leaders in supporting government programmes, including the Parish Development Model (PDM), and called for greater vigilance against corruption.
He noted that village leaders had played important roles in community mobilisation during public health interventions, including mosquito-control campaigns and efforts to sensitise residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Otimong warned that leaders involved in corruption would face consequences, stressing that public office should be used to serve communities rather than provide opportunities for personal gain.
Revenue collection and service delivery
Otimong said the municipality wanted to improve its performance further, with the ambition of becoming a leading local government in revenue mobilisation and service delivery.
He thanked the Ministry of Local Government and municipal leadership for supporting efforts to strengthen the capacity of local administrators.
For the municipality, the challenge will be to sustain revenue collection while demonstrating how the resources are being used to improve services in villages, parishes and divisions.
The induction programme therefore focused not only on leadership skills but also on the responsibilities of local leaders in mobilising residents, resolving disputes, monitoring government programmes and promoting accountability.
As the municipality pursues its revenue targets, Otimong said strengthening the relationship between local leaders and residents would remain important in improving service delivery.
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