Alebtong, Uganda | The State Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr. Mercy Lakisa has warned political and technical leaders in Alebtong District against corruption, saying government officials who divert public resources or extort money from beneficiaries risk losing their jobs.
Lakisa, who is also the Woman Member of Parliament for Alebtong District, issued the warning on Friday while launching the distribution of 59,384 hand hoes supplied by the Government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) to support agricultural production in the district.
She said corruption among leaders is frustrating the implementation of government programmes and undermining efforts to improve household incomes and livelihoods.
Lakisa noted that the district leadership does not want to be seen by President Yoweri Museveni as failing to deliver services because of a few individuals who have chosen to treat government resources as personal property. She emphasized that Alebtong should become a model district in fighting corruption and ensuring accountability in public service.
The minister said transparency and proper management of government programmes would strengthen the district’s ability to attract more support and development interventions from the central government. She urged councillors to regularly monitor and report on the performance and progress of government programmes in their areas.
Lakisa also called on leaders to put political differences aside and focus on service delivery, noting that the election period was over and it is time to work for the people. She revealed that the district plans to establish a reporting channel through which residents can report challenges related to leaders and government programmes to enable timely action.
Her remarks followed reports from the office of the district chairperson indicating that some leaders have been extorting money from intended beneficiaries of government initiatives, including the Parish Development Model (PDM) and cattle restocking programmes.
During the event, Local Council One chairpersons appealed to district leaders to handle government programmes transparently and accountably. They commended Lakisa for supporting development initiatives in the district and urged her to conduct regular visits to grassroots communities to assess whether government programmes are reaching the intended beneficiaries.
Awei Sub-county LCIII Chairperson Sam Oyena Obonyo blamed the slow progress of some government programmes on leaders who allegedly withhold projects at the district level, saying such practices delay service delivery and deny residents access to government support.
Alebtong District received the 59,384 hand hoes under a government initiative aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and improving household incomes through increased participation in farming activities.
