COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES DEPARTMENT

Ms. Nabuuma Annet  - DCDO

CBSD Mandate:  Overall the department is responsible for facilitating community-driven development, poverty eradication, social protection, and the empowerment of vulnerable groups through participatory approaches and capacity building.(Community mobilization and mindset change)

The Community Based Services Department (CBSD) is the social engine of Mpigi District Local Government. It is responsible for empowering communities, protecting vulnerable groups, promoting social justice, and fostering inclusive socio-economic development. The department works at the grassroots level to ensure that government programs and services reach all citizens, with a focus on equity, rights, and community participation.

The department is structured into the following key sectors:

1. Sector: Gender, Women, Youth and Culture

Officer-in-Charge:Ms. Nampeera Hariet, Senior Community Development Officer

This sector is the primary driver for empowering key demographic groups and preserving the district's cultural heritage.

Key Functions:

Gender and Women Empowerment: Mainstreaming gender issues across all district programs; implementing projects for women's economic empowerment (e.g., skilling, access to finance); combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) through awareness campaigns and supporting survivors; and promoting women's leadership and participation in governance.

Youth sector: Coordinating and monitoring government youth programs like the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP); facilitating youth skilling and mentorship; promoting youth participation in community development and governance; and supporting youth sports and talent development.

Culture and Heritage: Promoting, preserving, and documenting the cultural heritage of Mpigi District; regulating and supporting cultural institutions and events; and harnessing culture as a tool for tourism and social cohesion.

1. Sector: Labour

Officer-in-Charge:Ms. Nayiga Frances, Senior Labour Officer

This sector focuses on regulating the world of work, promoting decent employment, and ensuring harmonious industrial relations

Key Functions:

Employment Promotion: Facilitating job creation initiatives, linking job seekers with employers, and providing employment information and guidance.

Labour Inspection: Enforcing labour laws, standards, and regulations related to wages, occupational safety and health, and terms of employment in both formal and informal sectors.

Industrial Relations: Mediating in trade disputes between employers and employees; promoting collective bargaining and social dialogue; and ensuring peaceful resolution of conflicts.

Workers' Education:Educating workers and employers about their rights, responsibilities, and relevant labour laws.

3. Sector: Disability and Elderly Councils; Probation and Child Welfare

Officer-in-Charge:Mr. Kibarama Bruhan, Ag. Probation and Welfare Officer

This sector is dedicated to the protection, care, and welfare of the most vulnerable members of society: children, persons with disabilities, and the elderly.

Key Functions:

Disability and Elderly Councils: Coordinating the activities of the District Union of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and the Elderly Council; facilitating their access to government grants and services; advocating for the rights and inclusion of PWDs and older persons in all sectors; and overseeing the implementation of relevant laws.

Probation and Child Welfare: Administering juvenile justice; providing probation services for children in conflict with the law; managing cases of child abuse, neglect, and exploitation; facilitating foster care and adoption processes; and promoting family and community-based care for children.

1.Sector: Integrated Community Learning for Wealth Creation (ICOLEW)

Coordinator: Ms. Nakayenga Juliet, Senior Community Development Officer (Mpigi Town Council)

This sector focuses on functional adult literacy as a foundational tool for poverty eradication and community development.

Key Functions:

Functional Adult Literacy (FAL): Implementing and monitoring FAL programs across the district, teaching adults basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Wealth Creation Skills: Integrating practical, income-generating skills training (e.g., agribusiness, handicrafts, financial literacy) into the adult learning curriculum to enable learners to generate wealth.

Community Learning: Establishing and managing community learning centers and coordinating with facilitators to ensure the effective delivery of the ICOLEW program

5. Sector: Community Mobilisation and Mindset Change

Coordinator: The District Community Development Officer

This is a cross-cutting sector crucial for the success of all government programs. It is responsible for rallying community support and fostering a positive attitude towards development.

Key Functions:

Community Mobilisation: Sensitizing and mobilizing communities to actively participate in government programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), health campaigns, and infrastructure projects.

Mindset Change:Leading public awareness campaigns to transform negative attitudes and practices (e.g., dependency syndrome, corruption) into positive, productive, and entrepreneurial mindsets.

Stakeholder Engagement:  Working closely with Local Council leaders, Village Health Teams (VHTs), and other community structures to disseminate information and gather feedback, ensuring a bottom-up approach to development.

Key programs in the CBSD 

1. Uganda women entrepreneurship program
2. Youth Livelihood program’
3. SAGE – social assistance grant for empowerment
4. National special grant for Disability
5. SEGOP – special enterprise grant for older persons

NB: The GROW Project is also supervised by the CBSD 

SUMMARY TABLE LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMS UNDER CBSD

Conclusion:

Under the leadership of Ms. Nabuuma Annet, the Community Based Services Department integrates these five sectors to build resilient, empowered, and self-sustaining communities in Mpigi District. The department ensures that development is not only infrastructur