Wakiso District has adopted a five-year communication strategy aimed at improving public awareness and rebuilding trust in government programmes after a study found widespread information gaps among residents.
The strategy, covering 2026 to 2030, follows research that found many residents lacked information about key government initiatives, including the Parish Development Model (PDM) and projects under the World Bank-funded Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme (GKMA-UDP).
According to the study conducted by Ultimate Multimedia Consult (U) Ltd, 72 percent of residents lacked trust in district communication channels, while 71 percent had never attended district meetings. Only 12 percent understood their rights and project timelines under GKMA-UDP.
The research also found a 68 percent information gap regarding the PDM, with only 14 percent of respondents saying they understood how the programme operates.
“There’s a lot of dissatisfaction in communities, with many residents expressing grievances about district authorities,” said Gerald Businge, the lead researcher.
The study, conducted across Wakiso’s municipalities, town councils and sub-counties, surveyed 1,500 residents and included interviews with district leaders, focus group discussions, digital communication audits and media assessments.
Researchers also identified staffing shortages within the district’s communication unit, which currently relies on a single senior communications officer to serve a population estimated at 3.4 million people.
The report recommends recruiting additional communications officers, holding quarterly community barazas and strengthening engagement with local council leaders to improve information flow and feedback mechanisms.
“If this is done within 12 months, we expect an improvement in the flow of information from the district to the intended recipients,” Businge said.
Senior Communications Officer Prossy Nakalembe acknowledged existing communication challenges and said the strategy would help improve public engagement and participation in government programmes.
“All the loopholes are going to be fixed in this strengthened communication line to ensure that the district serves its people satisfactorily,” she said.
Officials said poor communication has previously affected implementation of government projects, citing resistance by some traders to register for stalls at the newly constructed Kawuku Market because of fears of eviction.
The district hopes the new strategy will improve access to information, strengthen public trust and encourage greater participation in government initiatives.