Local govt leaders receive 196 vehicles as pledged by Museveni

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A total of 196 brand-new vehicles have been handed over to leaders across Uganda’s local governments, fulfilling President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni's long-standing pledge to enhance service delivery and strengthen local governance.

The handover took place at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala on Friday (October 31).

The vehicles were given to 135 district chairpersons, 10 city mayors, 20 city divisions and 31 municipal leaders. 

It is part of the government’s ongoing effort to facilitate effective supervision and monitoring of key national programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and the Uganda Road Fund.

At Kololo, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja was represented by local government minister Raphael Magyezi, who delivered her message, in which she praised the leaders for their resilience and commitment to improving service delivery at the grassroots level.

“These vehicles are not just for transport. They are tools for transformation; they must be used to strengthen coordination, monitoring, and accountability for all government programmes," said the prime minister.

Side view of 196 Brand new Toyota Pickup cars during distribution of vehicles to local government political leaders at Kololo Independence Grounds on October 31, 2025. (Photo by Mary Kansiime)

Magyezi directed that all old vehicles previously used by local leaders be formally handed over to the respective speakers of districts, cities, and municipalities to support council operations and ensure better functionality of local institutions.

Ben Kumumanya, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Local Government, during distribution of vehicles to local government political leaders at Kololo Independence Grounds on October 31, 2025. (Photo by Mary Kansiime)

Ben Kumumanya, the permanent secretary of the local government ministry, cautioned the leaders against misusing the vehicles for political or personal errands. 

He said the vehicles are government property meant strictly for administrative duties, particularly the supervision of government programmes, ensuring transparency, and promoting accountability in the use of public resources.

The President had previously committed to empowering local governments with the necessary logistics to implement government projects under the decentralisation framework effectively.

Since the introduction of decentralisation in the 1990s, local governments have been central to Uganda’s development agenda, serving as the primary link between communities and the central government. 

However, inadequate transport and logistical support have long hindered their capacity to monitor and execute programmes effectively.

Kumumanya said that by equipping local leaders with new vehicles, the government hopes to close this gap, enhance oversight of development projects, and accelerate the implementation of national priorities such as poverty reduction, infrastructure maintenance, and rural economic empowerment.