Soroti city elders demand greater say in govt programmes
Acam advised council members to work closely with technical officers and city authorities instead of creating unnecessary conflicts.
The newly sworn-in Elders Council poses for a group photo at Soroti City Council Hall. (Courtesy)
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Newly sworn-in Soroti City Elders’ Council chairperson Teddy Acam has called on city authorities to recognise older persons, listen to their concerns and prioritise them in government programmes.
Acam, an NRM mobiliser for Teso sub-region, made the call after being sworn in as chairperson of the five-member Soroti City Elders’ Council on September 7, 2026, at Soroti City Council Hall.
She advised the new council to make the welfare, dignity and voices of older persons the centre of its five-year mandate, urging members to listen first, consult widely and work with existing government structures to turn their concerns into action.
Acam advised council members to work closely with technical officers and city authorities instead of creating unnecessary conflicts.
She said elected leaders should provide leadership, guidance and oversight, while technical officers should be allowed to carry out their professional responsibilities in implementing government programmes.
“Elected leaders should guide and provide oversight, while technical people should implement programmes,” Acam said.
She further advised the elders to respect technical staff, maintain regular communication with city authorities and ensure that their activities remain within the council’s mandate.
Acam said the council should not simply speak on behalf of older persons but must first listen to their concerns, document them and present them to the relevant authorities for action.
Acam urged council members to remain accessible to older persons and create platforms where they can openly explain the challenges they face.
She said the Elders’ Council should act as a bridge between older persons and city authorities by ensuring that concerns raised at community level reach the relevant offices and are followed up.
“Issues affecting older persons should not remain at the community level,” she said, urging members to document concerns and follow them up until appropriate action is taken.
Acam said cooperation between political leaders and technical officers would be critical to the success of the new council.
She warned that persistent disagreements between the two sides could weaken government programmes and ultimately deny communities the services they deserve.
According to Acam, coordination between political leaders and technical officers would prevent misunderstandings and ensure that the council’s work complements the wider development programmes of Soroti city.
Soroti city town clerk Paul Batanda urged the newly sworn-in elders to familiarise themselves with the constitution governing the Elders’ Council before beginning their work.
Batanda said understanding the council’s mandate would help members avoid conflicts caused by overlapping responsibilities and enable them to perform their duties effectively.
He also advised the elders to notify city authorities whenever they plan to organise meetings and other official activities.
He also highlighted the shortage of office and meeting space in Soroti city, saying the challenge affects several groups operating in the city.
Soroti city deputy mayor Hellen Christine Amongin pledged to work with the new Elders’ Council to promote development and improve the welfare of older persons.
Amongin urged residents to use established city structures when presenting their concerns so that relevant authorities can assess the issues and take appropriate action.
She said cooperation between the council and city administration would be important in ensuring that the concerns of older persons receive the attention they deserve.
The five-member council comprises Teddy Acam as chairperson, Manasseh Eyenyu as vice chairperson, Aziz Abdallah as secretary for publicity, Fauscents Edyadu as secretary for finance, and Wilfred Esegu as general secretary.
The members pledged to advocate for better living conditions, dignity and improved access to services for older persons in Soroti city.
The new council begins its five-year mandate at a time when older persons are demanding greater recognition and participation in local development.
For Acam and her team, the challenge now is to turn their message into action by ensuring that older persons are listened to, their concerns are documented, and their needs are considered in government programmes.
Ultimately, the success of the council will be measured by whether older persons in Soroti city feel recognised, heard, respected and better served.