The government has underscored the strengthening of early childhood development (ECD) monitoring systems as a national priority, saying coordinated action across all sectors is essential to ensure that every child grows, develops and reaches their full potential.
Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Amon Mpanju, made the remarks on November 4, 2025, when he opened a training session on the national Early Childhood Development Scorecard for Social Welfare Officers, Education Officers, Nutrition Officers, and maternal and child health coordinators from different regions and local government authorities.
Mpanju said the scorecard is designed to unify sectoral efforts and improve accountability in delivering services that support a child’s wellbeing.
“We now have a national tool that allows us to track a child’s development from pregnancy, birth, growth and protection, all the way to the beginning of formal education. It brings every sector to the table and this is not an ordinary tool,” he said.
He noted that the scorecard will help the country identify existing gaps and guide targeted interventions to ensure every child, regardless of background, is supported within their community.
“The scorecard will only be meaningful if everyone delivers on their responsibilities at every level council, region and national. It provides a mechanism for planning, budgeting and developing programmes that promote early childhood care, nurturing and development,” he added.
A representative from the Prime Minister’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government, Subisya Kabuje, said the tool will improve the accuracy of information gathered at the local level and enhance decision-making in regional and district administrations.
Kabuje urged all stakeholders to play their role in enabling the government to strengthen child-centred services.
The Executive Director of the Early Childhood Development Network, Mwajuma Kibwana, praised the government for recognising the critical role of data in improving services for children. She called on stakeholders to remain actively engaged in supporting national goals for early childhood development.
