Gulu, Lamwo voters list key concerns ahead of elections

By Nelson Kiva, Mary Karugaba, Vincent Kaguta and Edward Anyoli

CITIZENS’ MANIFESTO

Since the end of the Lord’s Resistance Army insurgency, it is not only Gulu/city or Lamwo pacing for prosperity, but the entire Acholi sub-region, challenges notwithstanding.

The Balaalo pastoralists' eviction question has been a contentious issue in Acholi sub-region and voters, together with the civil and political authorities, want it concluded.

Despite presidential executive orders to have the herdsmen evicted, the authorities claim slow pace.

“It has become a hide-and-seek issue; people are talking, but nothing is changing on the ground,” Gulu LC5 chairperson Opio Atekel said. The matter, he said, has become so complicated since the herdsmen are in three categories, including some who bought the land legally, those who have rented the land for long and the illegal occupants.

The Gulu District Woman MP, Sharon Laker, also expressed concern at the implementation of the Balaalo eviction order, saying they have failed to fence off their land.

“They leave their animals to roam and destroy people’s crops. But because they have money, they have become untouchable,” Laker said.

The presidential order called for the eviction of pastoralists mainly accused of illegally occupying land, those failing to fence their grazing area, and damaging community livelihoods.

Gulu’s other issues 

The other issues both leaders and voters want addressed include high unemployment levels, resettlement of returnees from the bush and other war victims.

“When the guns went silent, they left behind a trail of so many war victims who are now loitering on the streets. They need to be identified and a needs assessment done. Those who need resettlement, the Government should cater and equip them with skills. Yes, the PDM [Parish Development Model] is there, but people are getting money without business plans,” Atekel said, emphasising the need to skill these people.

The concerns of voters cut-across general service delivery in education, health, roads and transport, agriculture and food security, water and sanitation, employment, poverty and power/energy, land management, domestic violence, environment, leadership, traditional, religious, media and sports.

Regarding roads, Gulu district voters cited the Gulu-Patiko-Palaro-Lamwo road, saying it was in a sorry state, including the bridge at Patiko.

The other concern is that the entire Gulu district has no A’level school. The district is bordered by Lamwo (north), Pader and Omoro (east), Oyam (south), Nwoya in the southwest and Amuru (west).

Manifesto  

The voters’ concerns are also reflected in the New Vision Citizens’ Manifesto conducted between March and May this year, where they highlighted key bottlenecks undermining service delivery in the spheres of healthcare, roads infrastructure, water and sanitation, poverty, unemployment, power connectivity, education, agricultural services, land management, crimes and leadership.

For instance, only about 14.2% of the respondents in Greater Gulu endorsed the state of health services, while in the roads sector, more than 90% questioned the state of the roads.

To ensure a national outlook, the Citizens’ Manifesto and survey involved 6,006 respondents from 58 districts across the 17 sub-regions. The respondents were randomly sampled from both rural and urban setups.

The combined population of Gulu/city and Lamwo is over 581,000, according to the 2024 National Population and Housing Census.

Gulu city was created with the upgrade of Gulu municipality through a parliamentary legislation in April 2020. It is the main business hub in Acholi sub-region. The step to upgrade Gulu to city status, some local authorities and voters said, was defined by good roads, proper lighting and booming businesses.

“Through various interventions like the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development project, we have been able to work on a number of roads within,” Geoffrey Otim, the mayor of Laroo-Pece division in Gulu city, said.

The other achievements included the Gulu Main Market, which was constructed at a cost of over sh20b and serves over 5,000 vendors.

He said they are hoping for a medical teaching hospital at Gulu University, which will improve health services in the area. “Since the Government introduced the PDM, close to 5,000 people have benefited, which amounts to about sh5.3b within this short period of time,” Otim said.

He, however, appealed to the Government to upgrade at least one of the two health centres III to health centre IV level. Gulu city is made up of four divisions: Gulu East, Gulu West, Bar Dege-Layibi and Laroo-Pece division.

Lamwo 

For Lamwo, the voters and leaders called on the Government to consider splitting the district into one more, and upgrade the key infrastructure to improve service delivery. Lamwo was carved out of Kitgum district and became operational on July 1, 2009, as part of the government’s decentralisation policy.

The district borders South Sudan to the north, Agago to the south, Kitgum to the southeast, and Amuru to the west.

It is predominantly inhabited by the Acholi people, who mainly rely on subsistence farming and livestock-rearing for survival. Key crops grown include cassava, beans, sorghum, groundnuts and simsim, while livestock — such as cattle, goats, and poultry — provides additional income.

Local leaders say the vast size of Lamwo continues to hinder effective service delivery. The Lamwo LC5 chairperson, Sisto Ocen Oyet, appealed to the Government to bring services closer to the people.

“The creation of Palabek district would enhance local governance and make it easier for residents to access services without moving long distances,” Oyet said.

Health centres, vocational institutions 

He also called for the upgrade of Padibe Health Centre IV to a district hospital, saying the facility currently serves several sub-counties and often struggles with congestion due to limited capacity.

In recognition of Lamwo’s consistent support for the NRM, district leaders further urged the President to establish a vocational training institute in the district to equip youth with employable skills.

The leaders also reiterated the need to tarmack and upgrade the Kitgum-Lamwo-South Sudan road, which passes through Padibe and Lukung up to Ngomoromo border, describing it as a vital route for cross-border trade and movement of goods between Uganda and South Sudan.

The voters said improved infrastructure, social services and education facilities would not only boost Lamwo’s economic growth, but also strengthen its contribution to national prosperity.

The district, which also hosts Palabek Refugee Settlement, remains one of northern Uganda’s strategic border districts.

Despite challenges in the infrastructure and service delivery, leaders say they remain optimistic that the Government support will accelerate the district’s growth.

What people say 

Polycarp Odoch, Lamwo district NRM chairperson: The creation of another district to be called Palabek would bring services closer to the people and enhance local governance.

Thomas Oketayot, resident of Paluga: Farmers in Lamwo often face challenges in accessing markets and earning fair value for their produce because most agricultural products are sold raw. We need local industries for value addition, such as processing cassava, groundnuts, simsim, maize and other crops, which would increase farmers’ incomes.

Florence Atii, resident of Lukung: The government needs to strengthen security on the Uganda-South Sudan border and resolve the ongoing cross?border disputes.

Sarah Adongkena Oko, resident of Madi Opei in Lamwo district: The Government should consider appointing a resident to the position of resident district commissioner because a local appointee would have a deeper understanding of the district’s unique challenges and development priorities.

Thomas Onen, resident of Padibe West: I want the Government to expedite the payment of the Acholi war debt claims, specifi cally those involving compensation in the form of livestock.

What experts say

Tony Kitara, a lawyer based in Gulu, said the President needs to urgently address the issue of compensating war claimants. He said the Government should prioritise resolving the long-standing matter of individuals who lost property and livestock during the war in northern Uganda.

“A committee was formed, and a comprehensive report was produced, with clear recommendations that are now before the President. This is one of the key issues he needs to address and take concrete action on,” Kitara said.

He said another crucial matter is the Transitional Justice Bill, which is currently before Parliament is another area of concern. The Bill seeks to address the long-standing effects of violent conflicts and human rights abuses in Uganda.

“These are critical national concerns that the President should focus on, alongside improving the country’s infrastructure,” Kitara said.

Dr Sarah Bireete, the executive director at the Centre for Constitutional Governance, said there is a need for urgent government intervention to address bad health service delivery, poverty and inadequate infrastructure.

She said if the issue of bad infrastructure is effectively addressed, it would help open up markets for agricultural produce and boost economic growth across the country.