The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, Dr. Aminah Zawedde, has urged Local Government communication officers to embrace digital platforms as powerful tools for reaching Uganda’s youthful and tech-savvy population.

While addressing Local Government Communication Officers Dr. Zawedde emphasized that Uganda’s population is predominantly young with an average age of about 16 years and the majority are active on platforms such as WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, X, and YouTube. She said that to communicate effectively, government officers must “speak to citizens where they are”, by adopting modern, interactive, and relatable communication channels.

Dr. Zawedde noted that Uganda currently has over 44 million mobile subscriptions and more than 10 million smartphone users, making digital platforms an important space for sharing government messages and promoting programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM).

She urged officers to use facts to counter misinformation and to highlight local success stories that demonstrate government impact at the grassroots.