Otuke, Uganda | Leaders in Otuke District have been urged to forgive one another and work together to strengthen service delivery following the recently concluded elections.
The call was made by the Member of Parliament for Otuke East, Julius Acon, during a leaders’ meeting held on March 10, 2026 at the district council hall under the theme “Unity in Diversity as Leaders: A Means to Effective and Efficient Service Delivery.”
The meeting, chaired by the Resident District Commissioner Eric Massiga, attracted more than 100 participants, including Members of Parliament, district technical staff, political leaders, security officials, religious leaders, and community representatives.
Acon thanked the RDC and the Chief Administrative Officer Joseph Lomongin for organizing the meeting, saying it came at the right time when leaders needed to reconcile after the election period.
He noted that elections often create divisions among leaders and communities, stressing that dialogue and forgiveness are necessary to rebuild unity.
Acon urged leaders to embrace reconciliation and focus on the shared responsibility of developing the district.
He added that leaders possess different talents and abilities, which, when combined, can help address the many development challenges facing Otuke.
The legislator cautioned that political conflicts and divisions slow down development and affect the delivery of essential services to the people.
Massiga said the purpose of the meeting was to bring leaders together after the elections and remind them of their responsibility to serve the people.
He thanked residents of Otuke for strongly supporting Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in the recent elections, noting that the district was among the leading contributors of votes in the Lango subregion.
The RDC urged leaders to set aside political differences and work together in lobbying government for resources to support development projects in the district.
During the meeting, Lomongin presented an overview of the district, saying Otuke covers about 1,550 square kilometres and has a population of 161,068 people according to the 2024 census.
He explained that the district’s scattered population makes service delivery more costly, especially in the construction of roads, health facilities, and schools.
Assistant RDC Isaac Opio Opeo, who spoke on behalf of cultural leaders, welcomed the meeting theme and said unity among leaders is essential for the district’s development.
Opio Opeo noted that people are gifted differently and that combining their strengths would help leaders achieve greater progress for their communities.
Representing religious leaders, Imam Hassan also called for cooperation among leaders and urged Members of Parliament to lobby effectively for resources to improve services in the district.
District councillor Geoffrey Ario Omach expressed concern about divisions among leaders, particularly between Members of Parliament and district leadership.
He warned that such disagreements weaken the district’s chances of attracting development opportunities despite the overwhelming support given to the president during the elections.
Meanwhile, the district chairperson Francis Abola commended the technical team for their commitment to duty, saying their efforts had enabled Otuke District to rank 34th in the national assessment.
Abola also revealed that he, Acon and Paul Omara, had agreed to put aside their past differences and work together for the development of the district.
He apologized to anyone he might have offended during the political process, a gesture that was welcomed by participants at the meeting.
Omara said the message of unity had touched him and pledged to work closely with fellow leaders to improve the welfare of the people of Otuke.
He also asked the district technical team to prepare a list of priority needs that Members of Parliament can follow up at the national level.
Participants described the meeting as an important step towards reconciliation and expressed hope that renewed cooperation among leaders would improve service delivery in Otuke District.