After elections, Omoro urged to refocus on farming to fight poverty

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The Omoro resident district commissioner (RDC), Emmanuel Okot, has urged residents to shift their focus from politics to agriculture following the conclusion of the electoral period, saying farming is key to tackling poverty and food insecurity in the district.

Okot said that with the 2026 general elections now concluded, communities should concentrate on productive activities, particularly farming, to improve household incomes and strengthen food security.

“This is the time for people to leave politics and return to farming so that we can fight poverty and famine in our communities,” Okot said.

He noted that the recently concluded elections in Omoro district were conducted peacefully, with no major incidents recorded, attributing the calm to the vigilance and coordination of the district security team.

Omoro district electorates voting for their leaders in Omoro district during the just concluded polls. (Photo by Johnisani Ocakacon)

“Elections have ended, and people need to start focusing on development issues that can help them fight the prevailing poverty in the region,” he added.

Okot emphasised that as the first planting season approaches, residents should prioritise preparing their gardens instead of engaging in prolonged political discussions, which he said consume valuable time.

“As farmers prepare for the first season, people must start clearing their gardens and stop wasting time talking about politics. Time is a resource that should be used productively,” he said.

He also called for unity among political leaders and their supporters, urging those who lost in the elections to work together with winners to promote development in Omoro district and the wider Acholi sub-region.

“Let your focus be on development by embracing government programmes that benefit communities so that you can become self-reliant and financially empowered,” Okot said.

Lilly Angelika Akello, the female councillor representing Omoro town council, echoed the RDC’s message, saying the post-election period should be dedicated to improving livelihoods through agriculture.

“The elections have ended, and this is the time when people should concentrate on farming and other productive activities,” Akello said.

She further advised residents to cut down on excessive alcohol consumption and prolonged political debates, and instead focus on preparing their gardens ahead of the expected rains.

“People should avoid wasting time on alcohol and endless political talk. Let us prepare our gardens as we wait for the rains to start,” she said.

Akello added that Omoro district continues to face significant poverty challenges, which she said can only be addressed through serious commitment to farming and other income-generating activities.

Meanwhile, the returning officer for Omoro district, Paddy Atuha, described the elections as free and fair and called on elected leaders to honour their mandates by serving the people who entrusted them with leadership.

“The elections in Omoro were free and fair. The leaders who were elected should now focus on delivering services and fulfilling their promises to the people,” Atuha said.

Local leaders have repeatedly emphasised agriculture as a key driver of economic growth in Omoro district, where the majority of residents depend on subsistence farming for their livelihoods.

As the district prepares for the first planting season of the year, leaders say renewed focus on agriculture could help improve household incomes and strengthen food security across the region.