The Local Economic Development (LED) Department at the Ministry of Local Government has called on local councils to play a central role in turning community resources into economic opportunities that improve household incomes, create jobs and enhance local revenue.

Speaking during the Training of Trainers workshop in Masaka, Mr. Stephen Tumwine, a Senior Development Officer at the Ministry of Local Government, representing the Commissioner for LED, Mr. Anthony Namara, said the workshop was aimed at equipping trainers with the knowledge and skills to facilitate the induction of local government council leaders on the LED module, among other modules.

The trained facilitators are expected to equip council leaders with a better understanding of their role in identifying and harnessing economic opportunities within their communities.

Tumwine said local councils have a responsibility to mobilise communities, identify local economic opportunities and create an enabling environment for businesses, investment and enterprise development.

He also noted that political leaders are not expected to implement technical LED activities themselves, but should provide leadership, advocate for resources, support local economic priorities and hold implementers accountable.

He further explained that LED is not simply about having services closer to the people, such as roads and electricity, or having land, water bodies and other resources available in a locality, but about transforming these assets into economic value that can improve household incomes, create employment and increase local revenue.