Mukono District Local Government has launched a capacity-building workshop for Parish Chiefs on profiling business enterprises, aimed at strengthening data-driven planning, improving service delivery, and enhancing local revenue mobilization across the district.
The workshop, officially opened by the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), brought together Parish Chiefs from across Mukono District. Among those in attendance were the Speaker of Mukono District Council, Rt. Hon. Asuman Muhumuza Lubowa, who represented District Chairperson Hon. Francis Lukooya Mukoome, District Minister for Health, Education, Community Services and Commercial Services Hon. Anna Lubulwa, District Minister for Finance Hon. Winnie Nakaddu, Hon. Tony Kalyago, Ms Beatrice the District Commercial Officer and other district officials.
Speaking during the workshop, The Principal Commercial Officer ,Mr. Ntege, the facilitator, emphasized that effective leadership and planning cannot be achieved without accurate and reliable data.
He noted that leaders cannot adequately understand or address the needs of their communities if they lack information about the people and businesses operating within their jurisdictions.
Mr. Ntege explained that the district had decided to begin the exercise in eight sub-counties, stressing that it is unacceptable for a Parish Chief to be unaware of what is happening within his or her parish.
He challenged local leaders to dedicate time to collecting and updating statistics about their communities, saying such information is essential for evidence-based planning and development.
He further revealed that the district’s long-term vision is for every sub-county to establish an online portal where local information can be accessed digitally. Although the initiative may require significant investment, he described the current business profiling exercise as the foundation for building a modern digital database that will support implementation of sub-county development action plans.
Mr. Ntege urged Parish Chiefs to personally visit businesses and complete the profiling forms instead of relying on assumptions or collecting information from a single location. He stressed that field verification is critical to ensure the district obtains accurate and reliable data.
Addressing participants, Hon. Anna Lubulwa, the district Secretary for Health, Education, Community Services and Commercial Services, applauded the initiative, noting that the Office of the District Chairperson had already begun collecting data on youth, women, and persons with disabilities.
She said business profiling complements these ongoing initiatives and will provide the district with comprehensive information about both formal and informal businesses operating within Mukono District.
Hon. Lubulwa reminded participants that Mukono is now part of the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA), making accurate business data increasingly important for planning and attracting investment.
She encouraged Parish Chiefs to collect reliable information and accurately capture GPS coordinates for every business to enable proper mapping and planning.
Representing the District Chairperson, Speaker Rt. Hon. Asuman Muwumuza Lubowa officially opened the workshop and emphasized that no leader can effectively serve the community without access to accurate information.
He said every Parish Chief should know all businesses operating within his or her parish because such information forms the foundation for planning, monitoring development, and improving service delivery.
The Speaker explained that the purpose of the exercise is to provide leaders with credible information for decision-making while also helping residents understand that data collection is not solely intended for taxation.
However, he noted that taxation remains an important component of development because government requires local revenue to finance essential public services and infrastructure.
He therefore urged Parish Chiefs to sensitise communities about the objectives of the exercise and encourage their full cooperation.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Mr. Musisi Franco, the Parish Chief for Kyabaloga Parish in Nakisunga Sub-county, thanked Mukono District Local Government for organizing the training.
He said the profiling exercise will enable Parish Chiefs to better understand the communities they serve while providing government with accurate information about businesses operating within the district.
Mr. Musisi added that the data will help government make informed decisions, improve planning, support businesses, and implement programmes that promote economic growth and improve the livelihoods of residents.
The business enterprise profiling workshop marks an important step towards strengthening evidence-based planning and governance in Mukono District.
District leaders emphasized that accurate and up-to-date data is essential for effective service delivery, local revenue mobilization, business development, and socio-economic transformation. Parish Chiefs were encouraged to carry out the exercise professionally, transparently, and comprehensively to ensure that every business is captured, thereby providing government with reliable information for planning and sustainable development across Mukono District.
