Local Gov’t Ministry PS Kumumanya directs veterinary officers to proactively boost extension services at the grassroots.

The Ministry of Local government has directed production and veterinary officers to be more proactive in providing extension services to the farmers at the grassroots to boost service delivery at the grassroots 

This was disclosed by the Permanent Secret of the Ministry of Local government Mr. Ben Kumumanya during a one-day engagement of District, City and Municipal Production and Veterinary Officers at Hotel Africana, Kampala, to address key issues affecting service delivery in local governments.

The meeting focused on strengthening agricultural extension services, controlling Foot and Mouth Disease and other animal diseases, and advancing implementation of Pillar One of the Parish Development Model (PDM).

Kumumanya said that “Do not wait for communities to come looking for you. You must go to them and ensure services reach the people,”

He noted that strengthening extension services is critical to boosting agricultural productivity& supporting the successful implementation of PDM.

Speaking to journalists, the permanent secretary, Ben Kumumanya, said local government department heads must prioritise data collection and clearly demonstrate their achievements under key government programmes.

He added that the programmes include the Parish Development Model, which covers enterprises such as poultry, agriculture, dairy production and other income-generating activities aimed at improving household welfare.

Kumumanya said the ministry holds regular engagements with local government officials to assess progress, identify gaps and agree on ways to improve implementation.

“The central government formulates policies and guidelines, but their success depends on local government officials who implement them at the grassroots,” he said.