Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

The implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM), the provision of health and education services, and the facilitation of land transactions at city and district levels are among the key services thrown into jeopardy after local government workers commenced a countrywide strike yesterday.

Local government workers, under their umbrella body, the Uganda Local Government Workers Union (ULGWU), laid down their tools due to the government’s failure to enhance their salaries.

ULGWU Secretary General Hassan Lwabayi Mudiba told Monitor that instead of fulfilling pledges to increase salaries or engaging the workers in dialogue, the government resorted to threats despite repeated petitions to the Public Service ministry.

‘We gave notice to the government through the head of Public Service and Secretary to Cabinet on September 18, 2025 of workers’ intention to undertake industrial action commencing on October 1, 2025, pursuant to section 14(a)(b) on serving notices between the government and labour union,’ Mr Mudiba said.

‘Unfortunately, the government has not responded to the notice. Yet, workers resolved to lay down tools as a way of expressing their dissatisfaction with the government’s failure to address salary disparities within the Public Service,’ he added.

Ms Catherine Bitarakwate, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Public Service, said her ministry was releasing an official statement regarding the strike, which had not yet been issued by press time.

Mr Ben Kumumanya, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, said engagements with various workers’ heads were ongoing to avert disruptions that could affect service delivery.

‘Apparently, the strike has not affected any service delivery because the local government workers are on their duty stations,’ he said.

‘I have held meetings with different stakeholders, including districts’ service commissions, district education officers, district health officers, among others, and this issue has been extensively discussed because these people’s salaries shall be enhanced in the coming financial year, and they know it,’ he added.

Strikes in context

The ULGWU strike comes as arts teachers under the Uganda National Teachers Union (Unatu) and lecturers and trainers from 150 government technical institutions under the Uganda Technical and Vocational Trainers’ Union (UTVTU) started a similar industrial action on September 15.

Three years after a similar demonstration in July 2022 over the same issue of salary enhancements, Mr Mudiba said workers have been patient with the government until they were pushed to the edge.

Despite a wage bill increase from Shs7.8 trillion in FY 2024/25 to Shs8.6 trillion in FY 2025/26, local government workers categorised under unconditional grant wages did not benefit from the increment, according to the union.

Mr Mudiba accused the government of creating ‘salary disparities’ through selective increases, polarising the civil service and demoralising employees. He also criticised the opacity of certain salary structures.

‘Like the National Planning Authority (NPA), their salary structures cannot be seen, yet there are no scientists, and I challenge the government to make public their salary structure and that of the National Environmental Management Authority (Nema),’ he said.

ULGWU National Treasurer Miriam Mukani said there was still room for dialogue.

‘If the government comes up and says let us have a dialogue, there is room. But as of now, since there is no response, there is nothing much we can do other than keeping on the strike until the government realises that local government workers also matter,’ she explained.

Mr Usher Wilson Owere, the former chairperson of the National Organisation of Trade Unions (Notu), said the strike by local government workers has a direct trickle-down effect on service delivery to the public because these employees deal with people on the ground.

‘Local government is the real government, and anything there affects the whole country, and that’s why I implore the government to quickly meet with the aggrieved workers’ leaders and solve this issue, as well as streamline industrial relations and ensure that the negotiation machinery put in place works,’ he said.

Except for Kampala Capital City, managed by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), a national government ministry established by the Kampala Capital City Act, 2011, the rest of the 146 districts, 10 cities, and 11 municipalities are governed under the Local Government system.

This means the striking employees provide services to a significant population, mostly in rural areas, which already face multiple challenges. Mr Owere said a meeting between ULGWU leadership, Workers Members of Parliament, and other trade union officials is expected at Parliament to devise ways of ending the strike.

‘We want to help the government move away from this mess once and for all instead of relying on people who are not bringing solutions to the problem,’ he said.

About ULGWU

ULGWU was formed in 2006 by a group of workers to advocate for the rights of local government employees. Mudiba did not specify the exact number of members but said the Union was gazetted twice by the Ministry of Gender and the Public Service Ministry.

The majority of members are administrative staff attached to 75 public hospitals and 398 health centres (III), over 10,000 parish chiefs, district accountants, district education officers, district health officers, human resource managers, among others. Salaries range from Shs187,000 to Shs990,000, depending on rank.

Their demonstration will have far-reaching effects. For example, district councils may halt operations because clerks are union members, revenue collection may stop since parish chiefs are off duty, probation cases will not be attended, and implementation of the PDM project will be delayed.

City and district land boards will not provide services, schools will go uninspected due to absent DEOs, and hospital support staff, including administrators, accountants, and mortuary attendants, will also stay home.

Situation on the ground

Mr Andrew Moses Awany, the president of the Uganda Local Government Association (ULGA), said the majority of local government workers remained at their stations and distanced ULGA from the strike.

‘We negotiated with the government about the salary enhancements of both political leaders and technical workers in local government, which they accepted and even committed in writing, and now we are just waiting for the actualisation in the next financial year, so those ULGWU announced their strike without consulting us,’ he said.

The majority of workers in different local governments contacted by this newspaper had turned up for duty yesterday.

In Kabale, the district communications officer, Mr Alex Byakatonda, said 99 percent of headquarters staff reported for duty. ‘150 out of 160 district headquarters staff reported for duty and business is normal in all the district departments,’ he said.

In Kisoro District, communications officer Imeldah Mukeshimana said most local government workers reported for duty as they were not ULGWU members.

‘The situation is not normal and business unusual because members of the ULGWU in Kisoro District did not turn up for duty as they joined their colleagues in the sit-down strike that started on Wednesday,’ she said.

Principal Administrative Secretary for Rukiga District Gideon Tumwesigire said it was business as usual since very few local government workers in his district are ULGWU members.

Local perspectives

The industrial action in Greater Masaka mainly involves lower-level civil servants, while scientists and other heads of departments at the district level recently received pay increases.

Mr Alfred Makumbi, parish chief of Mitondo Parish in Kyotera District, said poor working conditions prompted the strike. ‘We are pivotal to the efficiency of all government programmes; we need improved working conditions,’ he said.

At Kyotera District headquarters, staff attendance was 40 percent despite a letter from the chief administrative officer urging workers to report for duty.

Mr Gordon Mayanja, the chairperson of Kyesiiga Sub-county in Masaka District, said the strike could affect PDM implementation since parish chiefs, who are central to registering and monitoring beneficiaries, were absent.

‘The ongoing strike may make us miss out on PDM as chiefs won’t be able to register and monitor the beneficiaries,’ he said.

Key services affected

* Parish Development Model (PDM) implementation.

* Health services at public hospitals and Health Centre (III) facilities.

* Education services and school inspections.

* Revenue collection at parish and district level.

* Land board services at city and district level

After weeks of drama, threats, and near-boycotts, Nec finally bow to the inevitable-kicking off their StarTimes Uganda Premier League campaign on Thursday at Nakivubo Stadium against URA.

But it is a start with double hearts, one half unwilling, the other resigned to fate.

Alongside giants SC Villa and Vipers, Nec had vehemently opposed the controversial new league format, vowing not to step on the turf until Fufa revisited its stance.

Yet on the eve of their mandatory fixture, the club’s official communication on X betrayed a sense of coercion:

‘The focus shifts to the mandatory fixture, which we must play despite our disagreement with the new league format, as other engagements continue.’

It read more like a surrender note than a rallying cry.

Tough times

And if that wasn’t enough, Nec’s preparation is already crippled by misfortune.

Coach Hussein Mbalangu – normally the embodiment of confidence and bravado – sounded uncharacteristically subdued.

Still smarting from their Caf Confederation Cup elimination at the hands of Nairobi United, the gaffer admitted his team were bruised, battered, and mentally drained.

‘We didn’t achieve our target in Nairobi, we didn’t have luck by our side but the boys gave it their whole,’ he lamented.

‘We had asked Fufa to postpone the game because we have many injured players – Allan Mugalu, James Jarieko, Cromwell Rwothomio, Titus Ssematimba, Siraje Ssentamu – we have about eight injured players, but we shall try to fight for maximum points.’

His words betrayed both a wounded pride and a pragmatic realism.

The Caf exit robbed his side of momentum and the injury list reads like a horror script. Still, Mbalangu insists that familiarity with URA’s patterns could offer Nec a lifeline.

Same old URA

The irony, however, is that their opponents are equally unpredictable.

Alex Isabirye’s URA, despite undergoing a facelift in the transfer window, showed the same old bluntness in their goalless opening draw against Bul at Njeru.

The Tax Collectors remain a puzzle – capable of brilliance one week, and mediocrity the next. That volatility makes tonight’s clash at Nakivubo one of the most unpredictable ties on the early fixture list.

Elsewhere, at the Police Arena in Kamwokya, Matia Lule’s Police continue their reintegration into the top flight against Express.

Police showed defensive discipline in a goalless draw with Mbarara City, but must now contend with a Red Eagles side buoyed by a narrow 1-0 win over UPDF.

Badru Kaddu’s men looked sharp in that opener and will fancy adding Police to their early-season victims.

StarTimes Uganda Premier League

Thursday

Police vs. Express, 4pm

URA vs. Nec, 8pm

Makerere University’s School of Law lecturer, Mr Robert Kirunda, has been appointed a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), becoming only the second Ugandan to serve on the prestigious international body.

The appointment was confirmed in a statement released by the Law School on Thursday.

“Congratulations to Mr Robert Kirunda, Lecturer @MakerereLaw, he was appointed a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). He is the second Ugandan to receive this appointment,” the statement reads. The PCA, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, was established in 1899 to facilitate arbitration and other forms of dispute resolution between states.

Over the years, it has developed into a modern, multi-faceted institution addressing disputes involving states, state entities, intergovernmental organisations, and private parties.

Mr Kirunda, who teaches at Makerere Law School and also practices as an advocate, will contribute to the court’s mandate, which includes handling disputes related to territorial and maritime boundaries, sovereignty, human rights, foreign investment, and international trade.

Uganda’s representation at the PCA is seen as significant in strengthening the country’s profile in international law and arbitration.

Makerere University School of Law emphasised that Kirunda’s appointment was a reflection of his expertise and contribution to legal scholarship.

“This appointment highlights the growing impact of Ugandan legal professionals on the global stage,” the School noted.

His appointment comes at a time when international arbitration continues to play a critical role in resolving complex disputes between nations and global entities.

The PCA currently has 122 contracting parties, including Uganda, and operates as one of the world’s oldest institutions for the peaceful settlement of international disputes.

As the political campaign season gains momentum with the various presidential candidates embarking on their campaign trails in different parts of the country, in Alebtong District, little-known youth are embarking on a campaign trail of their own. One to sensitise and teach locals about the dangers of climate change. In the Daily Monitor of Wednesday, October 1, a story titled, ‘Youth in flood, drought-prone areas rise to climate challenge’, highlighted how hundreds of youth trained by a local non-governmental organisation, Change Lead Agency Social Support, educate their community on the impacts of climate change.

Climate change, for many in rural areas, sounds like a distant, irrelevant issue that they need not bother themselves with or that is a preserve of non-governmental organisations and a topic for intellectual discourse at global conferences. In fact, according to Moses Omara, executive director of Change Lead Agency Social Support, there are some members of the community who still believe that climate change is a result of God’s anger and not man’s activities. This is why the youth engaged in this noble project should be commended and supported by the various stakeholders.

The youth who walk through villages from about 10am to 6pm, engaged in door-to-door campaigns in Amugo and Abako sub-counties in Alebtong District sensitise people on the dangers of wetland encroachment, bush burning, which explains rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events affecting crops, livestock, and overall livelihoods, among other aspects. Alebtong District, like many other parts of the country, has suffered climate challenges such as floods, which destroy acres of food crops and homes.

The climate challenges in the area are said to be mainly a result of unregulated charcoal burning, which reduces the land’s ability to absorb water, increase surface run-off, and increases flood risk. There’s also a problem of poor agricultural practices, such as over-grazing and cultivation on steep slopes, leading to soil erosion and increased runoff and silting of River Moroto. Omara says they have come up with mitigation and adaptation approaches to fight climate change.

Climate challenges are real and dealing with them should not be relegated to just a few in society. Societies should be helped to understand the consequences of their personal day-to day actions and choices on the environment. Such sensitisation and awareness drives as is being carried out by the aforementioned youth brings the concern down to the grassroots and encourage informed behavioural change. This is why looking out for and supporting such initiatives is key. It is a plus that the main participants are young people. They, after all, are the future and are bound to suffer the effects of a misused Mother Earth more.

President Yoweri Museveni has urged Ugandans to re-elect him in the 2026 General Election, citing his remarkable achievement in building a professional army as one of the key reasons. While campaigning in Alebtong District on Thursday, October 2, 2025, Mr Museveni said throughout his 39-year presidency, he has transformed Uganda’s military into a disciplined and effective force.

“We work for kuc (peace), and we are able to achieve it because we have got a disciplined professional army and the army is built professionally,” said Mr Museveni. “We don’t look at tribes in the army or religion. We look at, are you a good soldier or not? That’s why when we are recruiting, we recruit from every district. Every district has a quota. That’s how we have peace now.”

The President emphasised that his administration has ensured that the military is accountable to the civilian population, and its primary focus is on protecting the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He believes that a strong and disciplined military is essential for maintaining peace and order, not only within the country but also in the region.

Economic infrastructure and oil discovery

Mr. Museveni also highlighted his government’s achievements in economic infrastructure, including roads, electricity, telephones, and piped water. “We worked on the road from Tororo-Mbale-Soroti-Dokolo-Lira-Kamdini, and then now we have just almost finished the road from Rwenkunye-Masindi Port-Apac-Lira-Puranga,” he said.

The President also touted the discovery of oil, which he said was not discovered by the British despite their efforts from the 1920s to 1956. “The British were here. They looked for the oil from 1920s up to 1956. They gave up and they wrote a report… but when we came, we discovered it, and we are now laying the pipeline to pump it out of the ground.”

Call to vote for Museveni

Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua pleaded with the people of Lango to vote for President Museveni in the forthcoming 2026 elections. “Why Lango and Alebtong should vote for you (Museveni) is the fact that the National Resistance Movement, under your leadership in the post-independent history of Uganda is the first political party in power to introduce wealth creation initiatives,” said Mr. Obua.

He added, “It is only the NRM that has brought Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, the youth fund, the women’s fund, the special grant for PWDs, and special grants for older persons, among others. Our people of Alebtong, we know where we are from, we know where we are, and we know where we want to go. I want to earnestly ask you that do not waste your votes to any presidential candidate.”

Poverty situation in Alebtong

A 2018 survey study found that locals in Alebtong were “so satisfied with life but they are very poor.” The study, conducted by Global Health Network (U), discovered that 86.5% of participants felt satisfied with life, but the majority were actually very poor.

In the 2021 presidential election, Alebtong District gave Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert 16,794 votes, while Yoweri Kaguta Museveni got 42,832 votes.

The Electoral Commission (EC) Tribunal is today expected to convene to look into election matters, including the fate of three women who were sued after declaring their intentions to contest against the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, in the forthcoming elections.

Ms Zipporah Akol sued Ms Hellen Odeke Akol, Ms Susan Norma Otai, and Ms Marion Mercy Alupo, asking the court to block their nomination on the grounds that the three aspirants are not legitimately registered as voters in Bukedea District and should, therefore, be disqualified.

The Electoral Commission was also listed as a respondent in the suit, with all four parties required to file their defence. However, by Monday, only Ms Alupo had filed her response, while the EC requested for more time to prepare its defence. The court pushed the matter to Monday next week.

A source told Monitor yesterday that the Commission is slated to sit today to decide whether to back the three women or remove them from the register. The source added that the chances of the Commission declining to support the trio are very high.

EC speaks out

In an interview, the EC’s Manager for Public Relations, Mr Julius Mucunguzi, explained that petitions are a core part of the Commission’s work.

Mr Mucunguzi further said the complaints are normally lodged by parties themselves, but did not confirm if the case of the three petitioned aspirants will come up in the meeting. ‘The Commission is currently hearing many petitions. I have not checked which one is on the agenda, but it is true that the Commission will be meeting tomorrow (today). The Commission always meets on Tuesday and Thursday.’

According to documents filed in the High Court’s Civil Division in Kampala, Ms Akol claims the Electoral Commission did not followed due procedure in publishing the voters’ roll in May 2025, and that in the 10 days allowed for objections, complaints were raised that Ms Odeke did not originate from or reside in Malera Parish, Ms Otai was not from Kopeta Parish, and Ms Alupo was not a resident of Kotolut Parish.

In her petition, Ms Akol wants the court to declare the three women unregistered voters, bar the EC from nominating them, and rule them ineligible to stand.

The respondents have dismissed the claims. Ms Alupo insists she has proof she is a registered voter in Bukedea, Ms Odeke has described the case as ‘machinations,’ while Ms Otai is demanding an explanation from the EC on how her name was deleted.

The EC has not publicly confirmed the details. Meanwhile, the NRM party, which earlier nominated Ms Among unopposed for the Woman MP slot after Ms Odeke was disqualified, maintains that the case is part of local political manoeuvring.

What law says

Under Uganda’s Parliamentary Elections Act, 2005, a valid candidate for Parliament must be a Ugandan citizen, a registered voter, and meet the minimum educational requirement. Disqualifications include non-voter registration or failure to meet residence and origin requirements.

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate, Mr Nathan Nandala Mafabi, has urged residents of Iganga District to vote him, promising to lead a corruption-free government with a focus on grassroots development.

While speaking to residents in Nkaatu Igamba, Northern Division, Iganga Municipality yesterday, Mr Mafabi emphasised that tackling corruption at the local government level would be his top priority if elected president.

Mr Nadanala argued that many of the challenges affecting service delivery and development in Uganda originate from mismanagement and embezzlement within local councils and district offices.

According to Mr Nandala, funds meant for roads, health centre, schools, and community projects are often stolen or misused before reaching the intended beneficiaries.

By cleaning up corruption at the grassroots, Mr Nandala believes national development will become more efficient, transparent, and impactful.

‘Each year, government officials steal Shs10 trillion. If elected President, I will recover that money and redirect it to real development, starting with the villages,” Mr Nandala said.

He further pledged to upgrade Nakavule Hospital into a referral facility, citing its strategic location in the Busoga Sub-region, which also serves Bukedi and the surrounding areas.

Mr Nandala also said he will replace the Parish Development Model development Saccos, allocating Shs100 million to each village annually.

‘In my government, I will start by developing villages, then parishes, because true development begins at the grassroots,’ he added. He promised to establish an industrial park in Iganga to boost employment and economic growth.

On healthcare, he committed to ending ‘medical tourism,’ stating that no government official, including Members of Parliament and ministers, would seek treatment abroad.

Mr Nandala also said he will revive cooperatives across the country, abolishing university tuition fees to enable more students to access higher education, construct staff housing for civil servants, provide free electricity connections, reduce power tariffs, and tarmac all roads across Uganda

‘The people will be connected to the power grid without paying connection fees, and electricity will be affordable,’ he said.

Local leaders in Iganga welcomed his message but stressed the urgent need for a president who can tackle unemployment, corruption, poor service delivery, and the lack of security in urban areas.

Mr Lubega Yusufu, an aspiring district councillor for Iganga Central Ward, called for improved street lighting, noting that darkness in the municipality had become a security risk.

In Uganda’s West Nile region, women play a crucial role in agriculture, but cultural norms restrict their ability to own land and other properties. The Lugbara and Alur communities cherish deep-seated cultural values that limit women’s rights, leading to gender-based violence and disputes over land ownership.

“Culture has dictated that women simply enjoy the land user rights but not the right to own land,” says Paska Aliru, a resident of Polota parish in Logiri village, Arua District. “The customary certificate ownership that includes women is a big achievement for West Nile women.”

Elizabeth Minala, a widow and resident of Polota village, knows firsthand the struggles of women in her community. After her husband’s death in 2019, she was thrown out of her marital home and denied ownership of the land.

“I believe one of the reasons why I was thrown out of my late husband’s home is because of the greed for property, including land,” she says.

Uganda’s Constitution guarantees land ownership to every citizen without discrimination based on gender. However, in the West Nile region, women are often unaware of their rights. Esther Kisembo, Programs Coordinator at ActionAid Uganda, notes that the land awareness camp is a sensitization platform to empower communities about their land rights and customary land registration process.

“Uganda’s Constitution guarantees land ownership to every citizen without discrimination based on gender,” Kisembo says. “It’s unfortunate that in this particular sub-region, the women that form the majority of the population under the farming sector know that they have the land user rights but not the ownership rights.”

Local leaders are taking steps to address the issue. John Bosco Odama, the Logiri LC3 Subcounty Chief, acknowledges that land-related wrangles are a major source of community disputes in the region. “The women use the land but have no ownership rights,” he says. “But both the cultural leaders and the community are now realizing the importance of customary certificate registration where women are allowed to register ownership.”

The Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development is working with partners, including ActionAid Uganda, FIDA Uganda, and Eastern and Southern Small Scale Farmers Forum, to promote customary certificates registration and land awareness. Denis Obbo, the Communication and Information Officer at the Ministry of Lands, notes that the initiative aims to formalize land ownership and empower communities, especially women, to claim their rights.

The Lugbara Kari Pronouncement, a document detailing several interventions aimed at empowering the Lugbara people, clarifies the right of the girl child to education, property inheritance, and women’s land-related rights. As the government and partners work to address the issue, women in West Nile are hopeful that their struggles will soon be a thing of the past.

Lango Sub-region presents both wider concerns and district-specific issues that are likely to influence the 2026 general election outcomes. Recent aerial surveys in Lango Sub-region revealed deposits of minerals, including gold in Aboke and Alito sub-counties, Kole District.

The leaders argue that the government should update and publish a mineral map and provide clear plans for their exploration. Failure to harness these resources for socio-economic growth could become a major campaign issue in 2026, as residents demand jobs, revenue, and infrastructure from mining activities.

Compensation, historical injustices

In Kole District, the community is still waiting for the government to fulfil President Museveni’s 2017 directive to compensate Aculbanya Secondary School with a bus, after the NRA confiscated a school lorry during the insurgency in 1987. Unresolved historical grievances such as this may fuel voter dissatisfaction if not addressed before the elections due in January 2026.

Health services

The state of healthcare remains a top concern, with the communities demanding that Aboke Health Centre IV in Kole and Anyeke Health Centre IV in Oyam be upgraded to general hospitals to serve growing populations. Limited access to quality health facilities is likely to be a key campaign theme in the 2026 General Election.

Infrastructure and connectivity

The leaders demand adjustments to the Aboke-Bobi road design to link Aboke Market to Anekapiri Market, Ogur, and connect the district headquarters of Lira, Kole, and Apac by tarmac. Roads remain a visible development yardstick, and poor connectivity could influence voting patterns.

Access to electricity

Access to electricity in Lango is just 8.4 percent, which is far below the national average of 18.9 percent (Uganda National Household Survey). Calls for expanded rural electrification are urgent. Politicians will face pressure to show tangible progress on energy access, especially for households, businesses, and schools across the sub-region.

Agriculture and livelihoods

The communities are also demanding government investment in agro-processing plants, livestock farming with improved breeds, veterinary services, market access, and affordable irrigation technologies. With the majority of the voters in the area depending on agriculture, these demands will heavily shape the 2026 electoral debate.

Administrative and land issues in Oyam

The residents of Oyam District are calling for the creation of Aber District, citing a population of 572,000 with 1,169 villages, and 578 kilometres of district roads. There is also the unresolved dispute over 1,000 acres of land occupied by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in Loro. The land was originally given during the insurgency, but remains a sore point. These grievances could drive political mobilisation and voter sentiments in 2026.

Industrialisation and jobs

The leaders in Oyam are also lobbying for the establishment of an industrial park to boost employment. Given the high youth unemployment across Lango, this issue is likely to resonate strongly with the voters during campaigns.

Lira City

The city residents are calling for the construction of an airport in Lira Cit, and for this, land measuring about 1.8km by 4km has already been secured in Anai, Lira City, West Division. The locals also demand support for an agro-industrial park and the establishment of a sub-regional driving permit centre. These projects are seen as critical for business growth, trade, and employment, making them potential election issues.

Dokolo County North and South

The communities in Dokolo District want the Dokolo Health Centre IV that currently acts as a district hospital, upgraded to a general hospital. The Lango sub-region has the lowest paved road coverage in Uganda (3 percent), despite the ongoing work on the 191-km Rwenkunye-Apac-Lira road. The residents are also calling for the expedited tarmacking of the 88km Dokolo-Ochero-Namasale road and support for the development of an industrial park. Infrastructure and healthcare deficits remain major voter concerns.

Amolatar District (Kioga County and Kioga North)

The voters in Amolatar District demand a resolution of the conflicts between the fishing community and the UPDF on Lake Kyoga and the River Nile. There is a pressing need to improve electricity access that currently stands at 8.4 percent in Lango, compared to 18.9 percent nationally. The residents also demand investments in agro-processing plants, livestock development, veterinary services, markets, and irrigation technologies. These economic and service delivery issues could influence electoral support.

Alebtong District (Moroto County)

The residents are calling for the upgrading of Alebtong Health Centre IV to a general hospital. Similarly, with the Lango Sub-region’s paved road network standing at below 3 percent, the residents are also demanding the expedited tarmacking of the 120km-long Lira-Aloi-Kotido-Abim road. Likewise, healthcare and transport remain top voter priorities.

Kwania District (Kwania County and Kwania North)

The residents in Kwania are also calling for the upgrade of Aduku Health Centre IV to a general hospital. They also demand a ferry from Nambieso to Kwania, a critical transport link connecting the area to Amolatar. Lack of connectivity and limited healthcare services could shape voter preferences in 2026.

Lira District (Erute North and South)

The leaders in the district are advocating the creation of Erute District from Lira District due to administrative challenges caused by the carving of Lira City divisions from the parent Lira District. Currently, travel between the northern and southern parts of Lira District requires passing through Lira City, highlighting governance and administrative inefficiencies as potential election issues.

Association of allied health professionals’ council of Uganda has closed six privately owned health facilities over safety concerns and non-compliance to standards.

Some of the laboratories in the clinics were found to be operated by medical students while others with qualified but without operating licenses from their professions bodies.

But patients found at one of the clinics protested the closure saying their lives have saved since Arua regional referral hospital and Ediofe health centre which they are supposed to go to are far away from them.

‘My baby would have died had it not been this clinic near to us, Arua regional hospital is far away and the bridge to Ediofe health centre is broken. In times of emergency, especially at night, boda-bodas are too expensive and so, these clinics near us do help,’ Ms Brenda Asianzu, a resident of Ezova cell, Ayivu West said on Thursday.

But Mr Michael Mubiru Kayizzi, the Quality Assurance Manager at Allied Health Professionals said they were carrying out the exercise to protect the public.

‘We are here because we are protecting the public, it is the command of the law, to get regulated service,’ he said.

Mr Fred Alionzi, the proprietor of one of the closed health facilities appealed for leniency saying he was the sole breadwinner and could not sit at home.

‘When I completed my studies at school of health, I left huge school balances so I could not sit to get my transcript. And I am working here in order to get money to offset the balances and attain a licence. I could also not sit at home, I had to look for ways of making ends meet,’ Alionzi stated.

An imaging centre was also closed for using unqualified staff, and patients who had been referred for scanning from Arua regional referral were told to leave and their money refunded.

What is demanded?

For one to operate smoothly, requires a clinical officer who works under a supervisor for at least 4 years after school, and pays at least Shs300,000 to get a practicing license.