The government has announced plans to transform Posta Uganda offices across the country into public service delivery hubs where citizens will be able to access key government services such as passports, national identity cards and driving permits.
The plan is aimed at bringing services closer to the public, reducing congestion at central government offices and improving efficiency in service delivery, especially for people in rural and underserved areas.
The development was announced by ICT and National Guidance Minister Chris Baryomunsi during a high-level conference in Kampala that brought together representatives from 46 African countries.
Baryomunsi revealed that government is rethinking the role of postal services due to the decline in traditional mail usage as digital communication becomes more dominant.
“Posta Uganda was established in 1977 following the collapse of the East African Community Posts and Telecommunications Corporation, at a time when mail services were central to communication. Today, with rapid advancements in digital technology, we must reposition Posta to remain relevant and serve the changing needs of our population,” he said.
Under the proposed arrangement, Posta branches nationwide would be used as access points for government services, allowing citizens to apply for and process important documents without travelling long distances to ministries and agencies in major towns.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja also called on African governments to reform and modernise postal services by integrating technology and expanding their role beyond mail delivery.
She said postal services should evolve into platforms that support delivery of a wide range of public services in a more efficient and inclusive manner.
Nabbanja also rallied support for Jessica Hope Ssengooba, Uganda’s candidate for Deputy Secretary-General of a continental postal cooperation body, saying strong leadership is important in strengthening postal institutions across Africa.
Observers say the planned reforms are part of broader government efforts to decentralise and digitise public services while making use of existing infrastructure such as Posta offices across the country.
If implemented, the initiative could reduce the time and cost citizens spend travelling to access essential services and position Posta Uganda as a key access point for government services nationwide.
