The Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, has launched a renewed effort to improve the coordination and execution of royal duties across the kingdom’s regional structures.

Announced on July 10 via the Buganda Kingdom’s official Facebook page, the initiative is part of a broader push to modernize the kingdom’s traditional administrative systems while preserving its deep-rooted cultural values.

The Katikkiro presided over the meeting held at Bulange, the Kingdom’s administrative headquarters in Mengo. The session brought together leaders from all 18 counties (amasaza) of Buganda, along with representatives from Buganda communities living beyond the kingdom’s traditional borders.

“We must modernize our systems to meet today’s challenges while firmly preserving our traditions,” Katikkiro Mayiga stated during the meeting. “This is how we protect our identity and ensure progress across Buganda.”

Officials explained that the effort is driven by the need to improve service delivery, strengthen accountability, and promote unity across Buganda’s decentralized governance system.

With growing demands for effective leadership at the grassroots level, there is a renewed focus on improving communication between county chiefs and the central administration in Mengo.

The consultations aim to improve the coordination and delivery of royal duties at the county level, reinforce traditional leadership structures, enhance communication and cooperation between the counties and Mengo, and lastly, promote transparency and coordinated development planning across the Kingdom.

“Strong counties make a strong kingdom,” Jude Muleke, Pokino (county chief) of Buddu, revealed after the meeting. “We welcome this approach, which gives us a platform to voice our views and address shared challenges together.”

The consultations will continue in the coming weeks, with follow-up meetings planned across various counties. These forums will include local chiefs, elders, youth, and community leaders to ensure inclusive participation and a broad range of perspectives.

According to Kingdom officials, the outcomes of these discussions will form the basis of a broader framework for improving governance, leadership development, and development coordination at all levels.

Buganda has long operated under a decentralized governance system, with each county led by a traditional chief (Ssaza Chief) who reports to the central government in Mengo. This historic model has been essential to the Kingdom’s identity and cohesion.

However, as Uganda’s social and political landscape continues to evolve, Buganda’s leadership recognizes the need to adapt these traditional roles to better meet modern-day needs and expectations.

This new focus on county-level governance reflects Buganda’s ongoing commitment to staying relevant, effective, and united without losing sight of its cultural foundations.

As the consultations progress, many in the Kingdom see this as a chance to bridge the past and the future for preserving Buganda’s heritage while building stronger, more responsive governance structures for generations to come.