Cabinet has adopted new guidelines requiring ministers to coordinate major government announcements through the Uganda Media Centre in a move aimed at improving public communication and reducing contradictory statements from government officials.
The guidelines, adopted on November 3, 2026, require ministries to coordinate significant announcements with the Uganda Media Centre while retaining responsibility for verifying facts and approving the information they release.
According to a press briefing issued by the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Justine Kasule Lumumba, the Media Centre will support ministries through press conferences, media releases, production and public information services.
The guidelines are intended to ensure that citizens receive clearer and more timely explanations of government decisions and services.
The government also plans to communicate using appropriate Ugandan languages and accessible formats to reach different sections of the population.
During emergencies, ministries will be required to issue information needed to protect life, health and safety without delay.
However, the guidelines preserve lawful access to information and press freedom.
In the same briefing, Minister Lumumba provided an update on the Rationalization of Government Agencies and Public Expenditure (RAPEX), a government reform programme aimed at eliminating duplication, clarifying institutional responsibilities and reducing the cost of delivering public services.
She said that of the 157 government agencies reviewed, 60 had been identified for merger, mainstreaming or transfer of their functions, while 97 had been retained.
Parliament has so far passed 37 of the 41 Bills prepared to implement the reforms, with four still pending.
The government has revised the implementation roadmap to June 2027.
The reforms are projected to generate annual savings of approximately Shs959 billion from wage and non-wage expenditure.
Minister Lumumba, however, emphasized that the projected savings are not yet realized, noting that implementation must translate into improved service delivery and careful management of public funds.
