CIG and Government of Uganda Marks Milestone in Leadership Training for Permanent Secretaries

May 30, 2025

Mrs. Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye, Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet, Office of the President, Republic of Uganda (left) and Mr Ho Wei Jiang, Dean of the Chandler Academy of Governance (right) at the opening ceremony

SINGAPORE, 30 May 2025 — The Chandler Institute of Governance (CIG) and the Government of Uganda have successfully completed the third segment of the Public Service Leadership Excellence Programme, following its successful launch in March 2025. Held in Singapore from 26 to 30 May, the week-long programme brought together a delegation of 28 Permanent Secretaries led by Mrs. Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye, Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet, to exchange insights and learn from Singapore’s governance experience.

“We want to remind ourselves as leaders that it is not about the power we hold, but the responsibility we carry,”

said Mrs. Lucy Nakyobe Mbonye in her opening remarks, setting the tone for a week of deep learning and purposeful dialogue.

Mr Ho Wei Jiang, Dean of the Chandler Academy of Governance, welcomed participants and underscored the value of in-person exchange:

“This is your opportunity to learn from Singapore’s public sector practitioners, and to share your own insights and experiences. I hope you will find the time here both stimulating and empowering, and that the conversations you begin here will continue well beyond this programme.”


Strategic Foresight Grounded in Citizen Needs

Through a mix of thematic sessions and field visits, participants explored the practical elements of governance that align long-term planning with current national needs. Ms Dawn Yip, former Coordinating Director at Singapore’s Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, led discussions on how governments can adopt a strategic outlook while remaining responsive to the challenges and opportunities of today.

These ideas were brought to life during an immersive visit to the Singapore City Gallery, where participants saw how decades of disciplined urban planning have created a city that reflects visionary thinking, while remaining practical and grounded in citizen needs.

“From foresight to impact” – Ms. Dawn Yip leads an interactive session with discussions and activities focused on aligning strategic vision with public needs

At the Singapore City Gallery, participants explore how Singapore’s development journey and integrated urban planning haves enabled Singapore to evolve in ways that serve both current and future generations

Digital Innovation and HR Governance for Public Sector Effectiveness

Sessions on digital transformation and human capital governance highlighted how governments can enhance public services through the effective use of technology and talent. Mr Benjamin Hong, Head of the Director’s Office at GovTech’s Singpass division, shared insights from Singapore’s journey in building secure and accessible digital platforms for citizens. Mr Derek Tan, a veteran in both public and private sector human resource management, shared about Singapore’s Public Service HR frameworks and its approach to capability development, aimed at building a strong pipeline of competent and committed public officers.

A site visit to ITE College Central provided a close-up view of Singapore’s approach to workforce development and public-private collaboration, highlighting the value of long-term visioning in workforce planning.

Mr Benjamin Hong (top left) shares GovTech’s digital journey with Singpass, while Mr Derek Tan (bottom right) explores public sector HR transformation. The visit to ITE College Central provided deeper insights into workforce planning for a future-ready labour force

Building Trust Through Values and Community Engagement

Participants also reflected on how strong public institutions are built on shared values, coordination, and trust. Professor Soh Kee Hean, Associate Professor at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, led a session on fostering a culture of integrity within the public service.

Building on a discussion on citizen engagement facilitated by Ms Dawn Yip, participants made a visit to Singapore’s residential heartlands which highlighted how integrated policies spanning housing, transport and inclusive community facilities can strengthen social cohesion and demonstrate the government’s commitment to meeting community needs. Such engagements give citizens a voice and help build trust that their views matter and play an instrumental role in shaping the nation’s future.

“From values to trust” – Professor Soh Kee Hean leads a session on public sector integrity. In Singapore’s residential heartlands, participants observed how integrated policies in housing and infrastructure promote social cohesion and citizen trust

The Journey Continues
As participants return home to reflect on their experience and apply their learning, our attention now turns to the final segment of the programme, where they will present their capstone projects aimed at driving meaningful change in Uganda.

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About the Office of the President, Uganda and Office of the Head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet

The Office of the President is mandated to provide leadership in public policy management and good governance for national development. In this regard, the Office ensures that it provides efficient and effective support to Cabinet in the discharge of its constitutional mandate of formulating, determining and implementing government policies; government policies, programs and projects are adequately monitored and evaluated; it mobilizes the population towards achieving social and economic development; it detects, prevents and curtails the commission of politically motivated crime and provide intelligence information to other agencies among others.

Support to Cabinet comes through the Cabinet Secretariat, headed by the Secretary to Cabinet who is also the Head of Public Service. The office of the Head of Public Service is entrusted with:

  • Tendering advice to the President on matters relating to the Public Service
  • Coordinating of the activities of Permanent Secretaries
  • Supervising the work of Permanent Secretaries
  • Serving as a link between the Executive and the Public Service
  • Serving as a link between Service Commissions
  • Ensuring the implementation of Cabinet and other Government decisions
  • Any other duties assigned from time to time by the President.


For more news and information, visit https://op.go.ug/

About the Civil Service College Uganda

The Government of Uganda established Civil Service College Uganda (CSCU) on 1st July 2010 under the Ministry of Public Service as a centre of excellence in public service development. The mandate of the College is to build the capacities of Public Service Institutions and human resources for improved performance in public service delivery. It has the core functions of In-Service training to build the capacities of public service institutions and human resources for effective service delivery; supporting Public Policy Research and providing advisory services; as well as supporting Innovations in strategic areas of National Development.

For more news and information, visit https://cscu.go.ug/

About the Chandler Institute of Governance (CIG)

The Chandler Institute of Governance (CIG) is an international non-profit organisation, headquartered in Singapore. We believe in a world where citizens have a deep sense of trust in their governments and public institutions, and where nations are governed by principled, wise leaders supported by an effective civil service. Trust and effective governance serve as a strong foundation for national development and prosperity. CIG supports governments in building government talent, leadership and public service capabilities through training programmes, research initiatives and advisory work. We are not affiliated with any national government or political party, and we do not represent any partisan or commercial interests.

For more news and information, visit https://www.chandlerinstitute.org/ or follow CIG on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn @ChandlerINST

About the Chandler Academy of Governance (CAG)

The Chandler Academy of Governance (CAG) is the training arm of CIG. CAG complements and supports CIG’s work by designing and delivering training programmes that are practitioner-oriented, to equip government leaders with capabilities required to meet the realities and demands of public service work. CAG works with its panel of adjunct trainers and subject matter experts in the design and delivery of these programmes.

For more information about CAG, please visit https://www.chandleracademy.org
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For media clarifications, please contact:

Mutesa Betty Cwinya-ai (Ms)
Under Secretary
Cabinet Secretariat, Office of the President

Savia Mugwanya (Ms)
Commissioner
Civil Service College Uganda

Edward See (Mr)
Manager (Programmes)
Chandler Academy of Governance