Ministry of Local Governments, UNDP Deepen Partnership to Boost Local Service Delivery
By Kyeyune Ali
Kampala — The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Ben Kumumanya, has strengthened collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme to enhance service delivery and governance systems across Uganda’s local governments.
During an engagement held at UNDP offices in Kampala, Kumumanya met with the UNDP Resident Representative, Nwanne Vwede-Obahor, where the two leaders reviewed ongoing initiatives and explored avenues for expanded cooperation.
Central to the discussions was the Market Vendor Management System (MVMS), currently being piloted in Busia and Lira markets. The digital system has already improved revenue collection, enhanced transparency through full revenue visibility, and supported data-driven decision-making in local government markets.
Kumumanya commended UNDP for its continued support and called for increased collaboration to scale the system nationwide. He emphasized the need for additional financial resources, technical expertise, and implementation support to expand MVMS to more markets.
As part of its ongoing assistance, UNDP handed over essential equipment—including printers, laptops, and point-of-sale devices—to facilitate the effective operation of the system in the pilot markets.
The meeting also addressed the induction of newly elected local government leaders following recent elections. Both parties underscored the importance of capacity building to strengthen service delivery. UNDP committed to supporting Training of Trainers programmes in Local Economic Development (LED), aimed at equipping local governments with practical skills to drive community-level development initiatives.
In addition, UNDP pledged support to strengthen procurement processes within local governments. Vwede-Obahor noted that the goal is to improve efficiency and transparency, ensuring that development programmes deliver tangible benefits to communities.
The Ministry has already developed training manuals and is seeking UNDP’s support in validating the materials, as well as facilitating the rollout of the induction programme.
The engagement reaffirmed the strong partnership between the Ministry of Local Government and UNDP in advancing efficient, accountable, and development-oriented governance in Uganda.