Pallisa, Uganda: Newly elected councillors in Pallisa District have undergone a two-day induction programme aimed at equipping them with governance, legislative and oversight skills as they begin their 2026–2031 term of office.
The induction, organised by the Governance and Accountability Inter-District SCO Network (GAIN Uganda) in partnership with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), brought together 42 councillors who were sworn into office in May.
The training focused on strengthening councillors’ understanding of policy formulation, oversight, budgeting, legislation and their working relationship with the district’s technical staff.
GAIN Uganda Programme Manager Samson Emasit Okurut said the induction was designed to help first-time and returning councillors understand their responsibilities both inside and outside the council chamber.
“We brought in seasoned facilitators who understand lower local government dynamics,” Okurut said. He encouraged participants to embrace the training and use it to improve service delivery during their five-year mandate.
Among the facilitators were Pallisa Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Ofwono Emmanuel, Principal Assistant CAO and Clerk to Council John Okia, and Principal Human Resources Officer Francis Odelle.
Okia, the district’s longest-serving Clerk to Council, emphasised the importance of understanding council procedures and the Local Government Act. “I request you to make the Local Government Act and Rules of Procedure your daily prayer books.”
He added: “When it comes to council business, it should run smoothly with confidence. Your voters are always watching from the gallery. You are like players, when you fail in council, the entire district feels it.”
Chief Finance Officer Herbert Kirya reminded councillors that while they play a critical oversight role, they are not responsible for handling public funds. “You implement, you don’t handle the money. Your eyes must be on the work, but your hands are legally off the finances,” Kirya said.
Former councillor Yusuf Menkere, known for his experience in local government, also addressed participants, cautioning them to strictly follow legal procedures when exercising powers such as the impeachment of district leaders.
He warned that failure to adhere to the law could expose councillors to legal challenges.
Several first-time councillors said the induction had improved their understanding of local government operations.
Innocent Mugaria, the councillor representing Kibale Sub-county, said the training highlighted the importance of familiarising themselves with the Constitution, the Local Government Act and council rules of procedure.
“Some of us coming into council for the first time had no idea. We didn’t think owning the Local Government Act, Rules of Procedure, and even reading the Constitution was this important.”
Meanwhile, Koreta Omoding “Rasta”, councillor for Apopong Sub-county, called for longer induction programmes and recommended extending similar training to sub-county councils.
“This engagement is very important, but it needed a week. Organisers should mobilise more resources and train even lower councils at the sub-county level.”
Closing the training, Okurut urged councillors to put the knowledge gained into practice and make use of the reference materials provided. “Read the books GAIN Uganda has given you. They will guide you into mature, well-informed debates in council.”
CAO Ofwono Emmanuel commended GAIN Uganda for organising the induction, noting that similar capacity-building programmes would benefit councillors in other districts.
The training comes as newly elected local government leaders across Uganda begin implementing their five-year development agendas following the 2026 local government elections.
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