Permanent Secretaries’ Retreat

The Permanent Secretaries’ Retreat took place at Brovad Sands Hotel, Kalangala, from 1^st – 5th December 2025. The retreat brought together Uganda’s top civil service leaders to reflect on Government priorities, strengthen leadership capabilities, and renew commitments to improved service delivery.

The sessions and discussions centred on strengthening strategic leadership, improving inter-agency coordination, and accelerating national development. Some of the topics covered were:

• Leadership Transformation and Legacy Building
  Repositioning Permanent Secretaries as drivers of national transformation and long-term institutional impact.
• Public Sector Innovation and Artificial Intelligence Readiness
  Examining governance frameworks for Artificial Intelligence, Uganda’s national readiness, and citizen-centred digital transformation.
• Strengthening Programme Performance and Accountability
  Reviewing implementation of national resolutions, addressing non-performing projects, and improving programme-based budgeting.
• Talent Development and Public Service Culture
  Enhancing leadership pipelines, mentorship practices, and strategies for building a high-performance, values-driven Public Service.

Participants also engaged in:

• Wellness and mindfulness sessions
• Peer-learning and mentoring around campfires
• Field visits to the oil palm farm, Kalangala District Headquarters and Health Centre.
• An End-of-Year celebration and gift exchange to promote teamwork and solidarity

The retreat concluded with reflections on key lessons, issuance of certificates, and renewed commitments to advancing the efficiency, integrity and performance of Uganda’s Public Service. Permanent Secretaries departed on 5th December 2025 with clear action plans to support national development priorities in the year ahead.