President Museveni has handed over 176 brand new vehicles worth Shs 35.2 billion to local government leaders across Uganda.
The vehicles were officially handed over yesterday afternoon at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds to 135 district chairpersons, 10 city mayors, and 31 municipal leaders.
According to the government, the vehicles will help leaders effectively supervise and monitor the implementation of key national programmes such as the Road Fund, Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, Regional Development Programme (RDP), Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP), and the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP).
These initiatives are part of the government’s efforts to promote local economic growth and improve service delivery at the grassroots level.
The minister of Local Government, Raphael Magyezi, praised the leaders for their commitment to advancing government programmes despite limited resources. He urged them to use the vehicles transparently and efficiently, stressing that they should serve as tools to bring services closer to the people rather than for personal gain.
“The vehicles are meant to strengthen supervision and ensure that government programmes reach the intended beneficiaries. Please use them responsibly,” Magyezi said.
He also directed that old vehicles previously used by district chairpersons and mayors be handed over to the respective speakers of districts, cities, and municipalities to improve council operations.
Ben Kumumanya, the permanent secretary in the ministry of Local Government, encouraged the leaders to make the most of the vehicles by actively monitoring government projects, mobilising local revenue, and ensuring that development programmes produce visible results for citizens.
The vehicle handover comes at a time when Uganda is gearing up for the 2026 general elections. Political analysts note that such gestures by the government could be seen as part of efforts to strengthen the ruling party’s influence at the local level, where district and municipal leaders play a key role in mobilising support.
Museveni has in recent months stepped up engagement with local leaders and communities, urging them to promote government programmes aimed at fighting poverty and improving household incomes.
