Service delivery now priority, Tayebwa tells Arua city mayor-elect Alionzi

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Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has cautioned the mayor-elect of Arua city against laxity in service delivery.

Lawrence Alionzi, popularly known as Dangote, at only 25 years old, is set to take over leadership of Arua city as the second elected mayor after winning the seat in the January general elections.

While presiding over a thanksgiving ceremony on March 21, 2026, organised by the mayor-elect as the chief guest, Tayebwa cautioned that the time for celebration is over and that focus should now shift to service delivery.

The deputy speaker Thomas Tayebwa greeting the Bishop of Madi-West Nile Diocese, Rt Rev. Charles Collins Andaku at the thanksgiving ceremony of Arua City Mayor-elect Lawrence Alionzi. (Photo by Robert Adiga)

Tayebwa, who said the mayor-elect was strategically identified during his time at university, expressed optimism that Alionzi would deliver the city to the promised land.

He pledged both government and personal support to ensure the young mayor’s tenure is successful.

Tayebwa also emphasised the need for the mayor to prioritise teamwork with other elected leaders regardless of political affiliation.

“We don’t want you to be a city which is like a municipality, you must function like a city and we shall provide money to you and we especially plan to offer infrastructural and financial support to all cities and you must deliver to our expectation, I will monitor you closely and please work closely with other leaders and do not bring your national politics in service delivery,” said Tayebwa.

Leadership expectations

While representing the Inter-Religious Council of the region, the Bishop of Madi-West Nile Diocese, Rt Rev. Charles Collins Andaku, commended the mayor-elect for recognising God first, noting that leadership must be exercised with fear of God, integrity and accountability, and pledged continued support.

“We pledge our full support to your leadership during your term of office as the mayor of the city, and our support will be expressed through continued prayer for you, and we continue to pray for wisdom, strength and guidance for you,” Bishop Andaku said.

The mayor of Ayivu division, Marlon Avutia, pledged total allegiance to the young mayor, noting that his success or failure would be collective.

The Member of Parliament for Ayivu East Constituency and chairperson of the West Nile Parliamentary Caucus, Geoffrey Feta, encouraged Alionzi to prioritise rural electricity connectivity amid high public expectations.

“The national rate of electricity coverage is 25 percent and for West Nile it is 6 percent. Therefore, extending electricity to the last mile and rural communities should be the priority of the government in the next five years, and you, Lawrence, should be at the helm of lobbying as a political head in the city,” Feta said.

The resident city commissioner for Arua city, Rtd Maj. Betty Otekat Akello emphasised reconciliation and unity, urging leaders to prioritise the implementation of government programmes such as the Parish Development Model.

Calls for unity

Mayor-elect Lawrence Alionzi challenged leaders in the city and the wider region to unite for a common cause, noting that the region has lagged behind in several development indicators due to past political instability.

He also appealed to the electorate to put aside political differences and work together to tackle poverty and underdevelopment.

Deputy speaker Thomas Tayebwa and Lawrence Alionzi, joined by other leaders pose for a photo at his thanksgiving ceremony in Arua City. (Photo by Robert Adiga)

“West Nile lags behind by more than 10 years due to political instability and needed to run faster than the rest of the country, but unfortunately, we cannot do so due to selfish interests. Our challenge is not quality leaders, but not working as a unit, and this is what I will struggle to address," said Alionzi.

Medina Naham Ojale, the NRM finance and administration director, applauded the people of Arua city for their support of the President and the National Resistance Movement.

“For the first time in history, Arua city and particularly Arua Central Division voted over 70 percent for NRM and President Museveni, and this, we shall not take for granted. For some of the NRM candidates who failed to make it back to Parliament, we shall talk to the President because NRM has many rooms and see that they are rewarded for the good works done in the just concluded elections," she said.

Lawrence Alionzi will replace veteran politician Sam Wadri Nyakua, who served two terms as Arua District chairperson before becoming the first elected mayor of Arua city in 2021.

He was defeated by the youthful Alionzi in the NRM primaries and opted not to contest as an independent candidate in the general elections.