Uzbekistan reforms district management: Khokims granted more power and resources

A major shift in the structure, approach, and functioning of district-level governance has been announced in Uzbekistan. This was revealed on June 16 during a videoconference meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, which focused on the effectiveness of ongoing reforms, progress in the regions, and solutions to problems that concern the population.

The new management model will be fully implemented in Surkhandarya by the end of the year. Additionally, intensive reforms will be launched in 15 districts and cities across the country: Kungirot, Chimboy, Asaka, Gijduvon, Gallaorol, Yakkabog, Khatirchi, Chortoq, Bulungur, Syrdarya, Kuva, Shovot, Hazorasp, as well as in the cities of Margilan, Yangiyul, and the Bektemir district of Tashkent.

The implementation of this new system will be overseen by representatives from the Presidential Administration, the Government, and regional khokims (governors).

The President explained the new structure using the Syrdarya district as an example. Under the new model, nine district departments—economy and finance, investment, agriculture, employment, construction, ecology, culture, family and women's affairs, and youth—will be transferred under the direct control of the khokimiyat (district administration).

The district khokim will be empowered to distribute personnel across the khokimiyat and these departments, determine staffing levels, and make decisions on hiring and dismissals.

Additionally, local financial autonomy will be expanded. A portion of funds, such as administrative and financial penalties, tax fines, compensation for reclassified agricultural land, rental income from forested areas, and some revenues from public services, will now remain at the district level. For the Syrdarya district alone, this change is expected to generate an additional 12 billion soums annually.

The district khokim will now have four deputies. Based on the district's development plan, the khokim will define the area of responsibility for each deputy. For example, the khokim of Syrdarya district has identified tourism, services, and logistics as strategic priorities for the next three years. As such, his first deputy for economic affairs will also be tasked with overseeing those sectors. Each deputy will be assigned 10 specific tasks, each with corresponding funding.

Other deputies will also receive clearly defined responsibilities, backed by financial support. If the khokim and deputies successfully fulfill their Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), their region's funding will be increased by 10–15% the following year. If they fall short, funding will remain unchanged, and the responsible official will be dismissed.

“One thing must be understood correctly: if the district level does not work effectively, no matter how many instructions are given from above, the intended goals cannot be achieved,” the President emphasized.

The meeting also addressed critical systemic shortcomings. One of the major issues is high staff turnover due to low salaries—district-level employees often earn three to four times less than their counterparts in ministries.

Furthermore, although a district khokim is responsible for nearly 500 functions defined by more than a hundred laws and regulations, many are unaware of half of these responsibilities. This is largely because they and their deputies spend around 40% of their time in meetings.

Currently, the khokim has no authority to manage the staffing of district organizations, incentivize capable leaders, or dismiss ineffective ones. Lower-level personnel often do not align with the broader socio-economic development goals of the region. Moreover, departments responsible for integrated development are unable to develop and present long-term 3–5-year plans. Instead, they remain preoccupied with daily administrative tasks, resulting in unused resources and unimplemented projects in some districts.