The Bishop of Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese, the Most Rev. Dr Anthony Joseph Zziwa, has challenged political and technical leaders in Mityana District to strengthen accountability and closely monitor government programmes, warning that poor supervision and internal divisions among leaders are undermining service delivery and slowing development.
Bishop Zziwa, who also chairs the Uganda Episcopal Conference and the Inter-Religious Council of Uganda, made the remarks during a visit to Mityana District aimed at assessing government operations and engaging local leaders on the district's development priorities.
The visit began at the Mityana District headquarters, where he held a meeting with political and technical leaders, including representatives of the Buganda Kingdom.
Addressing the leaders, Bishop Zziwa urged them to take personal responsibility for monitoring government programmes instead of waiting for officials from the central government to identify shortcomings in their implementation.
He observed that effective supervision and accountability are essential to ensuring that public resources are used for their intended purposes and that communities receive the services they deserve.
"Leaders should not wait for government officials from the centre to come and monitor everything. You have a responsibility to follow up on the programmes being implemented in your respective areas and ensure that they benefit the intended communities," Bishop Zziwa said.
He also expressed concern over persistent disagreements among local leaders, saying internal conflicts can undermine cooperation and delay development initiatives.
Bishop Zziwa called on leaders to put aside personal differences and political disagreements, emphasising that unity is essential for effective leadership and improved service delivery.
"Development cannot be achieved when leaders spend most of their time fighting among themselves. You need to work together, because the people who suffer when leadership is divided are the ordinary citizens," he cautioned.
Despite the challenges, the Bishop commended Mityana leaders for their efforts to promote agriculture, healthcare and other development initiatives.
However, he encouraged farmers and business operators to embrace value addition to improve the quality of their products, expand their market opportunities and earn better returns from their agricultural activities.
"Producing agricultural commodities is important, but farmers should also think about how they can add value to what they produce. This will help them earn more from their work and improve their household incomes," he advised.
Meanwhile, Mityana District Chairperson Joseph Luzige welcomed the Bishop's visit, describing it as an opportunity for local leaders to reflect on their responsibilities and identify areas that require improvement.
Luzige and other district leaders pledged to strengthen their commitment to service delivery and work together to address challenges affecting development in the district.
Bishop Zziwa also commended the government for introducing various poverty alleviation programmes aimed at improving household incomes and livelihoods.
However, he urged the government to strengthen its collaboration with religious institutions, noting that churches have an important role to play in supporting community development and improving the welfare of Ugandans.
He observed that stronger partnerships between the government and religious institutions could help extend development interventions to more communities, particularly those facing social and economic challenges.
The visit forms part of Bishop Zziwa's efforts to engage local leaders and understand how government programmes are being implemented at the grassroots level.