Mr George Othuba has been sworn in as the new LCV Chairperson of Nebbi District, ending a 14-year bid that included three unsuccessful attempts at the seat.
Othuba took the oath of office today at Nebbi District headquarters after winning the recent election with 28,526 votes. He defeated independent candidate Alex Oyirwoth, who received 3,728 votes, securing a margin of 24,798 votes.
‘The political battles took me decades with a lot of sufferings and persevering with determination to see change,’ Othuba said. He said his administration will focus on education, health, infrastructure, water, and sanitation to drive community development.
The swearing-in ceremony featured calls for unity and accountability. Elders and religious leaders urged stakeholders to cooperate and avoid complacency, noting that Othuba’s term will emphasise action-based monitoring.
‘We cannot build Nebbi if we remain divided,’ Othuba said, adding that the district council will adopt a non-sectarian approach to governance.
His Worship Cyrus Ssennoga Mawano, Chief Magistrate of Nebbi, presided over the oath-taking. He said the oath formalizes the contract between leaders and voters.
‘A leader must have the binding contract with the electorates by taking oath as a binding document which shows transfer of power which is legally recognized and it’s a must that leaders must take oath,’ Ssennoga said.
Retired Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi urged Othuba to confront obstacles to development.
‘Leadership which divides people brings death and never attempt to use witchdoctors to lead your people because leadership comes from God and let God use you to bring hope in Nebbi,’ Orombi said.
Residents also voiced expectations for transparency. Ms Rose Oduba of Atego Sub-county called for independent investigations into corruption in health facilities, schools, and other district offices. ‘When a person is elected, the person must abide by the voices of the electorates but in most cases after one year, the whole system of the district is controlled by few friends of the district compromising the development to the locals,’ Oduba said.
Othuba now takes charge as Nebbi’s top political leader with a pledge to focus on service delivery and inclusive governance.