Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) from across Uganda are currently in their second week of a capacity-building training programme in New Delhi, India, as part of an initiative aimed at strengthening Uganda’s rural development strategies and enhancing agricultural transformation.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President, the Hon. Minister for the Presidency Milly Babalanda, and the Head of the RDC Secretariat/Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), Maj. Martha Asiimwe, is a strategic effort to equip RDCs with practical knowledge in modern agriculture, cottage industries, and rural empowerment models.
The officials were officially flagged off in a ceremony held at the Office of the President in Kampala at the end of March 2025. During the event, the Secretary, Office of the President, Hajji Yunus Kakande, praised India for its historical relationship with Uganda and its continued commitment to strengthening bilateral ties through such training programmes.
“India and Uganda share a deep history that dates back to the early 1900s when Indians helped construct the railway and set up some of the first large businesses in Uganda. This collaboration today reflects a strong and growing partnership anchored on mutual respect and shared development ideals,” Hajji Kakande said.
He emphasised that the selection of the RDCs was based on character, integrity, and performance, noting that the training will help them become effective change agents back home.
“This benchmarking exercise is an opportunity to learn from India’s success in lifting millions out of poverty through smart agriculture and grassroots empowerment. Our officers will return with ideas and innovations that can be adapted for our rural communities,” he added.
The ongoing two-week training includes workshops, group discussions, site visits to smallholder farming communities, and classroom sessions with India’s leading agricultural institutions. Areas of focus include low-cost mechanisation using handheld tractors, leather tanning and product development, cottage manufacturing, button-making from cattle horn and paper, colour mixing for domestic products, and production of milk and honey by-products.
According to Maj. Martha Asiimwe, the programme will enable RDCs to implement practical solutions at the grassroots level and share the acquired knowledge with vulnerable groups in their respective districts.
Second Secretary for Education at the Indian High Commission in Uganda, Mr. Upendra Singh Negi, reaffirmed India’s commitment to supporting Uganda’s development goals. He expressed confidence that the RDCs’ training will yield tangible results in Uganda’s rural transformation efforts.
This programme also comes at a time when Uganda, as the current Chair of both the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and the G77+China, is actively deepening strategic partnerships within the Global South, with India as a key partner.
According to the World Bank, India is among the fastest-growing economies globally, and its robust democracy and pro-people policies make it an ideal model for Uganda to emulate in promoting agriculture, rural innovation, and job creation.
The Office of the President affirms that this partnership will help Uganda accelerate its community development agenda by replicating viable Indian models of socio-economic empowerment.
