Bamutakudde LC1 Chairman Solomon Serwanjja has called for aspiring Members of Parliament to first serve in grassroots leadership positions, arguing that village-level experience can give leaders a better understanding of community needs and strengthen accountability.
Serwanjja, a former journalist, made the remarks at a leadership forum where he challenged the perception that Local Council I leadership is a minor responsibility.
“We need to get to a place where Members of Parliament cannot be MPs when they have not gone through the LC1 system,” Serwanjja said.
He said LC1 chairpersons are at the frontline of monitoring Government programmes, identifying projects intended for their communities and raising concerns when implementation does not take place.
“If we strengthen the LC1 system, we will strengthen accountability at the grassroots,” he said.
Serwanjja argued that village leadership provides practical experience in dealing with residents and understanding the challenges that Government programmes are intended to address.
He also encouraged experienced young Ugandans to return to their communities and apply skills in strategic planning, networking and resource mobilisation at the grassroots.
Serwanjja pointed to his work in Bamutakudde Village as an example of what LC1 leadership can achieve, citing efforts to secure assistance for residents and the development of a five-year plan focusing on water, infrastructure and youth skills.
His proposal has generated differing reactions, with some supporting greater emphasis on grassroots experience for political leaders, while others have questioned whether making village leadership a prerequisite for Parliament could restrict the entry of people with different professional and leadership backgrounds.
Uganda’s Local Council system forms the lowest tier of the country’s local government structure, with LC1 leaders serving at village level.
Serwanjja’s remarks come amid continuing discussions about the role of grassroots leadership in monitoring public programmes, improving service delivery and holding leaders accountable to communities.
