KAMPALA — President Yoweri Museveni is set to begin a nationwide engagement with Uganda’s traditional and cultural leaders in a move aimed at strengthening collaboration on national development and shaping the country’s future, Vice President Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo has said.
Speaking during a meeting with the Buganda Kingdom Cabinet at Bulange, Mengo, on Monday, Ms Alupo said the President will start the initiative by meeting chiefs from Buganda Kingdom before extending similar engagements to cultural leaders from across the country.
She said President Museveni had directed her to convey the message to Buganda Kingdom Prime Minister Charles Peter Mayiga and requested the kingdom to organise its chiefs ahead of the planned interaction.
“The President is interested in taking this dialogue further and personally engaging with the chiefs of Buganda. He asked me to request that they be organised and prepared for the meeting when they are ready,” Ms Alupo said.
According to the Vice President, the meeting with Buganda chiefs will be followed by a national engagement bringing together recognised cultural leaders from across Uganda to discuss the country’s future and explore areas of cooperation between government and traditional institutions.
She said the dialogue will focus on how cultural institutions and government can work together to improve the welfare of Ugandans and support national development.
The planned engagements come amid renewed government efforts to strengthen partnerships with cultural institutions, which have increasingly been recognised for their role in promoting social cohesion, preserving cultural heritage and supporting community development initiatives.
Although Uganda’s Constitution bars traditional and cultural leaders from engaging in partisan politics, they continue to play a significant role in mobilising communities and supporting socio-economic development programmes.
Responding to the Vice President’s remarks, Buganda Kingdom Prime Minister Charles Peter Mayiga welcomed the proposed engagement, saying the kingdom was ready to work with the central government on programmes that improve people’s livelihoods.
“We are ready to work with the central government on programmes that directly affect our people. Buganda is home to people from all parts of Uganda, and when services are improved here, Ugandans from across the country also benefit,” Mr Mayiga said.
The anticipated meetings are expected to provide a platform for discussions on shared priorities, including service delivery, community development, social transformation and national cohesion as Uganda advances its long-term development agenda.