Minister challenges political and technical leaders to make Masaka a model of accountable local governance
By Brian Mugenyi
MASAKA CITY, UGANDA — The Minister of State for Local Government, Hon. Justine Nameere Nsubuga, has challenged Masaka City’s political and technical leadership to close service-delivery gaps and position the city as a model of effective local governance.
Minister Nameere made the call on September 11, 2026, during a self-assessment meeting with political and technical leaders at Masaka City Headquarters, where officials reviewed the performance of various departments and identified challenges affecting residents.
She urged public servants to embrace a results-oriented mindset, warning against complacency in government employment.
“The attitude of public servants thinking that they are permanent and pensionable needs to change. Things are different now,” she said.
The minister said government officers must demonstrate commitment, accountability and ownership of their responsibilities if citizens are to see meaningful improvements in public services.
The Acting Town Clerk, Mr Ssebaduka Uthman, highlighted staffing shortages in critical departments, including Physical Planning and Production, saying the gaps were affecting the city’s capacity to effectively execute its mandate.
The assessment also examined essential services including healthcare, environmental management, garbage collection and roads.
Minister Nameere called for stronger waste-management systems to maintain cleanliness in the city and demanded accountability in the utilisation of the Road Fund.
She said resources allocated for road maintenance must translate into visible improvements for residents rather than remaining figures in administrative reports.
The minister also directed the Production Officer to urgently address implementation challenges affecting the Parish Development Model (PDM) and strengthen follow-up to ensure intended beneficiaries receive the programme’s support.
She emphasised that challenges identified during assessments must lead to corrective action.
“The issues identified should not simply remain in reports. They must result in action,” she told the meeting.
Minister Nameere further urged political and technical leaders to work as one team, arguing that effective local government depends on cooperation, accountability and clear responsibility.
Her message places Masaka City at the centre of a broader national conversation about service delivery under Uganda’s decentralised governance system.
For Masaka residents, the test will ultimately be measured not by meetings held or reports produced, but by cleaner streets, better roads, stronger health services and government programmes that reach the people they are intended to serve.
Minister Nameere said her ambition is to see Masaka City become a model of best practice in service delivery, demonstrating how responsive and accountable local leadership can translate government resources and programmes into tangible benefits for citizens.
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