By George Bukenya
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has fulfilled his pledge to strengthen local governance by delivering 176 brand new vehicles worth UGX 35.2 billion to Local Government leaders across the country.
The vehicles procured from cfao Mobility Limited were handed over to the respective recipients from 135 District Chairpersons, 10 City Mayors, and 31 Municipal Leaders at Kololo Ceremonial grounds on Friday 31, October 2025.
This initiative is aimed at enhancing the supervision and monitoring of key Government programmes such as the Road Fund, Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, Regional Development Programme (RDP), Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP), Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP), and other initiatives that promote local economic growth and effective service delivery.
Representing the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, the Minister of Local Government, Hon. Raphael Magyezi, applauded the leaders for their resilience and dedication to advancing Government programmes. He urged them to prioritize transparency, efficiency, and accountability in the use of the vehicles, emphasizing that they should serve as tools to bring services closer to the people.
He however warned the recipients to a void temptation from using these vehicles for their personal activities like political campaigning, and domestic farm works.
Hon. Magyezi also directed that old vehicles previously used by the District Chairpersons and Mayors be handed over to the respective Speakers of Districts, Cities, and Municipalities to strengthen council operations.
The Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ben Kumumanya, called on the leaders to put the vehicles to proper use by actively supervising Government projects, mobilizing local revenue, and ensuring that development interventions are handled well.
Edwin Muhumuza, cfao mobility limited Country Sales Manager said that the vehicles which cost UGX 170M each have a warranty 100,000 km or 3 years.
“We were cleared by government for a total of 196 vehicles and we are yet to supply the remaining balance of 20,’’ Muhumuza said.
However, the City Division Mayors who missed the new vehicle reacted furiously after missing yet the Ministry of Local government to receive the vehicles called them.
Those who missed are mayors of mostly newly created City Divisions and they are twenty in number, they registered their dismay after realizing that they are missing on the list of those who were to receive the brand new Toyota pick-up.
Patrick Oola Lumumba the mayor of Bardege-Layibi City Division said they were being discriminated yet the Permanent Secretary for Local government Ministry had assured them of getting vehicle as opposed to motor cycles, which were planned in 2023.
“The Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Local government called us and we travelled and slept in Kampala knowing we will be going back with our vehicles but only to be told after the Minister and Permanent Secretary had left that we weren’t on the list,” Oola said.
He further said that an official told them from the Local Government Ministry thatn they will receive their vehicles on November 15, 2025.
When contacted on phone, cfao sales manager admitted that the total number of vehicles to be supplied were still short of 20 vehicles.