The Community Based Services Department (CBSD), often referred to as the Social Development Sector, is a crucial department in a District Local Government in Uganda, dedicated to fostering inclusive community development, social protection, and the empowerment of all citizens, especially the vulnerable and marginalized. Headed by the District Community Development Officer (DCDO), the department operates at the grassroots level, mobilizing communities and implementing policies from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.   

Its core mandate is to empower communities to harness their full potential through social, economic, and cultural growth, ensuring active participation in development processes and demanding accountability for public and community-based initiatives. The department strives to bridge gaps between communities and government services, promoting equity, human rights, and improved livelihoods for all.   

Key functions of the Community Based Services Department include:

• Community Mobilization and Empowerment: Sensitizing, organizing, and building the capacity of communities to participate in local governance, planning, and implementation of development programs. This includes fostering community self-help initiatives and promoting group formation for collective action and income generation (e.g., through SACCOs).   
• Social Protection and Welfare: Providing welfare services and protection for vulnerable groups such as children (including Orphans and Vulnerable Children - OVCs, and those in conflict with the law), youth, women, older persons, and persons with disabilities (PWDs). This includes coordinating programs like the Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE) for older persons, and addressing issues of child protection, probation, and social welfare.   
• Gender and Culture Mainstreaming: Promoting gender equality and equity in all development processes and ensuring that the rights and needs of both men and women are considered. It also involves preserving and promoting positive cultural values and heritage.
• Functional Adult Literacy (FAL): Implementing and monitoring adult literacy programs to equip non-literate adults with basic reading, writing, and numeracy skills, often integrated with practical skills for improved livelihoods.   
• Youth and Women Empowerment Programs: Facilitating and coordinating government programs like the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP) and Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP), which provide financial and technical support to youth and women groups for income-generating activities.
• Disability and Elderly Services: Advocating for the rights of PWDs and older persons, supporting their inclusion in development, and coordinating initiatives like special grants for PWDs and activities for older persons' councils.
• Labour and Industrial Relations: Promoting decent work conditions, occupational health and safety in workplaces, and mediating labor disputes to ensure fair labor practices and protect workers' rights.   
• Registration and Supervision of NGOs/CBOs: Facilitating the registration, monitoring, and coordination of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) operating within the district to ensure their activities align with district development plans and contribute effectively to community well-being.
• Data Collection and Reporting: Collecting, analyzing, and disseminating data related to social development indicators, vulnerabilities, and program impacts to inform planning and decision-making.

The Community Based Services Department, through its various sub-sectors like Community Development, Gender, Probation and Social Welfare, Youth, Disability and Elderly, and Labour, serves as the frontline interface between the district local government and the communities, striving to create a more equitable, empowered, and resilient society.