The National Communication Policy 2026 requires government bodies to integrate communication into programme planning, implementation and evaluation to improve public access to information.
The government has directed all ministries, departments, agencies and local governments to align their communication strategies with the National Communication Policy 2026, in a move aimed at improving coordination and public access to official information.
The policy, adopted by Cabinet on March 9, 2026, requires government institutions to integrate communication into the planning, implementation and evaluation of their programmes and projects.
Launched by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, the framework is intended to help citizens better understand government programmes, access services and participate in decisions affecting them.
Minister of ICT and National Guidance Justine Kasule Lumumba said coordinated communication would help government institutions deliver clearer and more consistent messages to the public.
The ministry said the policy seeks to standardise government communication across institutions and strengthen engagement with citizens, including through digital platforms.
Under the framework, the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance will lead implementation, set communication standards, coordinate government messaging and monitor compliance.
Individual institutions will remain responsible for explaining their programmes to the public, preparing relevant information and translating or adapting messages to meet the needs of different audiences.
Implementation will involve institutions including the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, Uganda Media Centre, Government Citizen Interaction Centre, Vision Group, Uganda Communications Commission and National Information Technology Authority-Uganda. A coordinating secretariat within the ministry will bring together relevant government actors and other stakeholders.
The policy follows President Yoweri Museveni’s call for greater clarity and consistency in government messaging during the Cabinet meeting at which it was adopted. According to the ministry, the President also pledged increased funding for government communication.
The ministry said the policy was developed through consultations involving public and private sector stakeholders, communication professionals, the Cabinet Secretariat and the Communication and National Guidance Advisory Taskforce.
Its implementation is intended to support the priorities outlined in the NRM Government Manifesto 2026–2031 and the Fourth National Development Plan 2025–2030.
The ministry is expected to begin with awareness and mainstreaming sessions to familiarise government institutions with the policy and guide them on incorporating its requirements into their day-to-day work.
The policy places communication within the broader process of delivering government programmes, with the aim of ensuring that citizens receive information they can understand and use to access public services and development opportunities.