Kazo district local government councilors have completed a three-day induction program organized by the Ministry of Local government at Kazo district Headquarters in the Council hall today

The induction was aimed at equipping newly elected and serving councilors with knowledge of their roles, council procedures, legal frameworks and responsibilities in representing the people of Kazo district.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Kazo Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Hajji Badru Mayanja, thanked the Ministry of local government for facilitating the training.

Mayanja said he expects councilors to use the knowledge gained during the induction to effectively execute their duties and contribute to the development of their respective areas.

He urged the councilors to conduct themselves with self-respect and dignity, while cautioning them against making promises to voters that fall outside their mandate.

Mayanja warned councilors against promising residents jobs, noting that councilors do not have the authority to recruit district staff.

He also encouraged the councilors to respect one another, manage their time effectively, work as a team and apply the knowledge acquired during the training to improve service delivery in their communities.

The Vice Chairperson of Kazo district Fred Ntugire described the induction as a long-awaited program and thanked the government of Uganda for organising it.

Ntugire said the training was important because it would help councillors understand how to debate issues in council, respect one another and properly handle council business.

One of the facilitators from the Ministry of Local government, Senior Policy Analyst Innocent Atwijukire, said the councilors were trained on how to conduct council sessions, how council sittings are held and the importance of mutual respect among leaders.

Atwijukire said the ministry organised the induction to help councilors understand how to effectively serve the people they represent and how to plan for the development of their communities.

He urged elected leaders to work closely with technical officers, monitor government programs within their jurisdictions and ensure that public resources are used to improve the lives of citizens.

He also reminded public officers that the Constitution protects those who faithfully execute their duties, emphasising the need for leaders to promote professionalism, fairness and respect for the rule of law.

The Kazo district speaker, Dan Nahurira Bwamunyoga, thanked the Ministry of Local government for conducting the induction, saying the program was necessary, especially because some councilors are new to local government leadership.

Bwamunyoga said the training had provided councillors with an opportunity to understand their responsibilities and the procedures they are expected to follow while carrying out their duties.

One of the councillors who attended the three-day training, Mugabe Alex Kayabuki, who represents male workers at the district, described the induction as timely.

“I sincerely appreciate this timely induction. It has come at the right moment to equip us with the knowledge, procedures and legal framework needed to serve the people of Kazo with diligence and accountability,” Kayabuki said.

He added that the training had strengthened councilors understanding of their roles, rules of procedure and lawful ways of deliberating and making decisions in council.

“With this foundation, we are better placed to handle leadership responsibly, debate issues constructively and pass resolutions that stand on firm legal ground in the councils ahead,” he said.

The three-day induction concluded with a call for councilors and technical officers to work together, uphold professionalism and use their positions to promote effective service delivery and development across Kazo district.

The writer is Tinyefuza Naboth- Communications Officer, Kazo district local government.