The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development (PACEID), Odrek Rwabwogo, has called on government communicators to play a more strategic role in shaping Uganda’s narrative and deepening citizen trust in state institutions.
Speaking at the closure of a workshop for 200 government communication officers (GCOF) at the ICT Innovation Hub in Nakawa on Friday, July 11, 2025, Rwabwogo emphasized the critical role communication plays in strengthening the state. The workshop, organised by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and National Guidance in partnership with MultiChoice Uganda, was designed to enhance the officers’ capacity in storytelling and public engagement in the digital age.
Odrek Rwabwogo has emphasized the critical role communication plays in strengthening the state
Rwabwogo outlined four foundational pillars that uphold a strong and united nation:
- Justice for all, where the judiciary functions impartially, offering justice equally to both the rich and the poor.
- Security and protection, ensuring territorial integrity and safety for citizens, thereby removing the culture of impunity.
- Reliable and growing social services that keep pace with the demands of education. “It is good that the government introduced Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education, but we now need industrial workers, good broadband, good roads, a combination of air, land, and water, so that doing business is cost-effective and cheaper.
- A robust economy. “This is where PACEID is located in a segment called exports. To maintain the interventions PACEID has made in market access, standards, infrastructure, and export funding, effective communication is crucial.
He urged them to:
- Read widely and think beyond their departments, understand the region and the world so they can break it down and communicate with context to the audiences.
- Speak and write intelligibly. “To write well is to speak well. You give integrity and honour to the government you represent.”
- Build relationships internally and externally. “Don’t hoard information where it can solve a problem for an exporter, for a citizen, or for a student. That is how you build a state”
Rwabwogo also announced the establishment of the National Strategic Communications Committee (NSCC) by the President, which aims to improve coordination between government ministries, the Cabinet, and the broader public. “There will be a monthly perception or situation report to audit how Uganda is seen, locally and internationally,” he said. “NSCC will help harmonize government messaging and ensure our communication teams are equipped to respond strategically to events.”
He commended Dr. Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, and Hassan Saleh, Head of MultiChoice Uganda, for their leadership in organizing the workshop and investing in the skills of government communicators.
