Anthony Namara
Mr. Anthony Namara
Head of Department

1ntroduction:

The Local Economic Department (LED) is one of the departments under the Directorate of Local Administration in the Ministry. It is situated on the Southern wing of 5th Floor, Workers House.  The department was established in the financial year 2018/2019 and effectively came into being in March 2019.

The department was established following the adoption of the promotion of Local Economic Development as a sixth objective of the Decentralization Policy and derives its mandate from the National Local Economic Development Policy of 2014. The LED Policy is operationalized by the National Strategy for Local Economic Development (NSLED) 2021/2025

Structure and status

The Department’s structure comprises of a Commissioner, an Assistant Commissioner, two Principal Development Officers, two Senior Development Officers, two Development officers, two Research Assistants, one LED Assistant One Senior Personnel Secretary, ne stenographer and two Drivers. 

Vision of the LED Policy: 

A vibrant and competitive private sector-led local economy for poverty reduction, wealth creation and prosperity.

 Mission

To create a local governance mechanism which promotes a conducive economic and political environment for private sector investment, employment in local areas for improved household incomes and service delivery”. 

Overall Goal of LED Policy is

 A transformed local government system that facilitates effective business-oriented locality development with a focus on poverty reduction and sustainable wealth creation”.

The National LED Policy provides a framework for partnerships in local economic development and to serve as a vehicle for promoting and implementing LED initiatives at Local Government level in Uganda and is intended to further deepen the decentralization process, eradicate poverty and ensure inclusive, sustainable and equitable economic growth at locality level.

3.0 Mandate of the department

 To Create a local governance mechanism which promotes a conducive economic and political environment for private sector investment, employment in local areas for improved household incomes and service delivery.

  • Core function

Implementation of the LED Policy through:

  • Creation of awareness on LED
  • Strengthening Local Governance for LED
  • Promotion of Public Private Partnerships in LGs
  • Engagement of Civil Society, Development Partners and MDAs on LED Promotion
  • Coordination of LED Implementation
  • Mobilization of funds for LED Implementation
  • Monitoring and Evaluation of LED Implementation.

4.0 Key Department Achievements

Since its establishment, the department has made realized a number of milestones that include the following;

  • Revised and launched the National strategy for LED that now provides a framework for the Operationalization of the National LED Policy of 2014.
  • Created awareness on the LED Policy across LGs, MDAs and CSOs
  • Supported and coordinated efforts that revamped 27 Non-Operational Agri processing Facilities
  • Mobilized land in LGs for the development of 19 industrial hubs under the presidential initiative for Skills Development, Common User Facilities and Four Acre Model
  • Collaborated with Statehouse to develop and operationalize 12 Regional Industrial Hubs of Kayunga, Kween, Mbale, Napak, Lira, Gulu, Zombo, Masindi, Kyenjojo, Mubende, Kasese, Mbarara for Skills Development, Common User Facilities and Four Acre Model.
  • Coordinated the mobilization, admission of 2526 learners who have since graduated in trades of Tailoring, Welding, Hair Dressing and carpentry. This offers opportunity for job creation and raising incomes at house hold levels
  • Strengthened governance capacities of 76 LGs for LED implementation
  • Trained 32 Local Governments to develop their LED strategies
  • Coordinated the implementation of the Presidential Initiative to Promote Agro-Industrialization for Local Economic Development (AGRI -LED) in 11 LGs in Rwenzori Sub Region under which delivery of 13 Horse Plough Tractors in the districts of Bunyangabu, Kamwenge and Kitagwenda. Delivered Value addition facilities including Milk Coolers, Coffee Hullers has been undertaken.
  • Provided leadership for the revival of the implementation of the Northern Skills Development, Common User Facilities and Four Acre Model
  • Established the National Propagation structure for LED implementation in fulfillment of the Policy requirement.
  • To strengthen LED promotion and governance in LGs, the Department harmonized what existed in LGs as parallel structures for LED promotion and investment to form a hybrid structure called Local Economic Development and Investment Committee.
  • To ensure that projects fulfill their intentions, the department conducted Monitoring visits to selected Government projects i.e., Markets Developed under MATIP I &II, LEGS Project, PRELNOR, APFS, AGRI-LED Projects, PRUDEV, RISE and Implementation challenges were identified and corrective guidance provided.

 5.0 On – Going Activities 2022/ 23 Financial Year

  • The Department is supporting the Development of West Nile Sub Regional LED Strategy
  • Training Local Governments on how to develop their locality LED Strategies
  • Coordinating the revamping of Non-Operation Agro Processing Facilities (APFs) in LGs
  • Continue to coordinate the operationalisation of the remaining 07 Regional Industrial Hubs of Masaka, Kabale, Ntoroko, Adjumani, Soroti, Kibuku, and Jinja Hubs to ensure full scale Programme implementation for skills Development, Common User Facilities and 4 Acre Model.
  • Conducting orientation of orienting LGs on developed new structure for Local Economic Development Investment Committees (LEDIC).
  • Continued coordination of the coordinating the implementation of Presidential Initiative to Promote Agro-Industrialization for Local Economic Development (AGRI LED) especially on construction of Rural Agricultural Markets in Rwenzori Sub Region.
  • Extending support to LGs to have capacity for conducting Public Private Dialogues
  • Support the inspection and monitoring of PDM interventions
  • Continued monitoring of Government development projects to ensure alignment and fulfilment of their objectives
  • Continued provision of policy advise on several socio-economic issues in LGs

 

  • Key Priorities for the Department 2023/2024.
  • Strengthen capacities of LGs for LED implementation
  • Rehabilitation of all Non-Functional Agricultural Processing Facilities (APFs) in LGs to spur agro-industrialization.
  • Strengthening coordination for the success of all key development interventions (Industrial hubs) for skilling, value addition, Common User facility and 4-Acre Model
  • Support the development of Local Government investment/ economic profiles to enable marketing of LGs for development.
  • Orient LGs on Newly created structure and terms of Reference for Local Economic Development Investment Committees (LEDIC)
  • Develop targeted Agri-LED interventions for refugees and host Communities of west Nile, Acholi and Bunyoro Sub Region.
  • Development of regional development projects to address regional development imbalances.

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