By Chipo Brenda
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology (ICT) and National Guidance, Dr. Aminah Zawedde, has urged local government communication officers to embrace digital platforms as powerful tools for engaging Uganda’s youthful and tech-savvy population.
Speaking during a meeting of local government communication officers in Kampala, Dr. Zawedde emphasized that Uganda’s population is predominantly young — with an average age of just 16 years — and the majority are active on platforms such as WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube.
She said that to communicate effectively, government officers must “speak to citizens where they are” by adopting modern, interactive, and relatable communication channels.
Dr. Zawedde revealed that Uganda currently has over 44 million mobile subscriptions and more than 10 million smartphone users, making digital platforms an essential space for sharing government messages and promoting initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM).
She further encouraged communication officers to use verified information to counter misinformation and to highlight success stories that demonstrate government impact at the grassroots level.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Mr. Ben Kumumanya, called on communication officers to strengthen their visibility and contribution to national development through effective communication.
“There are positive developments within government — improved schools, health centers, recruitment efforts, and road infrastructure projects — that need to be shared with the public,” Mr. Kumumanya said.
He cited Kalaki and Terego districts as examples where new administrative blocks have been constructed to provide better office space, noting that such developments deserve recognition and publicity.
Mr. Kumumanya made the remarks while opening the meeting at the Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala, where participants discussed developing a roadmap and action plan for improving communication in support of Uganda’s development agenda.
He also emphasized that Communication Officers are among the 15 key officers that local governments should prioritize in recruitment — alongside the nine Heads of Department, Heads of Internal Audit and Procurement, the Principal Human Resource Officer, the Head of the Water Department, and the Secretary to the Service Commission — due to their crucial role in information dissemination and service delivery.