The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Local Government, Ben Kumumanya, has approved the administration of oaths of office to local council leaders in local languages, ending a long-standing challenge that has often turned swearing-in ceremonies into moments of embarrassment and public ridicule for some elected officials.
In a circular dated May 25, 2026, addressed to Chief Administrative Officers, Town Clerks and Sub-County Chiefs, Kumumanya says the Ministry had received several inquiries on whether councilors could take their oaths in local languages, considering that they are already permitted to conduct council business and deliberations in languages understood by their communities.
The guidance comes after years of complaints that many councilors, particularly at the LC III and parish levels, struggle to read and pronounce English words contained in the oath.
During several swearing-in ceremonies across the country, leaders frequently stumbled over words such as “allegiance,” which was often pronounced as “arrogance,” while “solemnly” was commonly rendered as “Solomon.”
For some councilors, even reading the rest of the English text proved difficult, turning what should be a solemn constitutional exercise into an awkward spectacle.
The situation often attracted laughter from members of the public and social media users.
Kumumanya notes that allowing leaders to take statutory oaths in languages they fully understand helps ensure they appreciate the obligations and responsibilities they assume upon taking office.
The move has been welcomed by many local leaders who have long argued that language barriers undermined the significance of the swearing-in process.
Ronald Ndawula, the former LCV Chairperson of Luwero District, says that beyond the challenges of pronunciation, many councilors did not fully understand the meaning of the oath they were taking.
By URN
Leave a Reply