Lira, Uganda – The push for the creation of Aber District from the larger Oyam District has intensified, with local leaders mobilizing residents and collecting signatures to petition President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to honor his pledge.
Addressing journalists today in Lira City, Ogutu Brian, Councilor Representing Aber to Oyam District Council, said it is his responsibility to represent the voices of Aber residents at the district level.
He confirmed that he had officially tabled the matter of Aber District as a public concern, which was adopted by the Oyam District Council and later presented to President Museveni during his visit to Oyam.
Ogutu said the issue was presented jointly with Benson Walter Dila Oyuku (Oyam LCV Chairperson), Morish Chris Ongom, and Easy Bash Macha (Councilor representing workers).
He noted that the president responded positively and assured them that Aber District would be considered when the window for creating new districts reopens.
Recently, the district executive revisited the matter and discussed both the creation of Aber District and Kamdini Municipality, submitting all relevant documents to Parliament and Cabinet for review.
Ogutu also revealed that a Lango regional memo was read to President Museveni on 30 January 2025 in Aduku, Kwania District, during a meeting with Lango leaders. The memo highlighted Aber District as a priority.
The same request was presented to Raphael Magezi, Minister for Local Government, during the commissioning of the new Oyam District Administration Block.
During Magezi’s visit, the leaders also raised the need for more wards and parishes in Kamdini, which currently has only two parishes, despite aspirations for municipality status.
The latest push is being driven by Museveni’s recent approval of three new districts in Tororo on 23 April 2025:
- Tororo City (retaining the name Tororo),
- Mukuju District (from former East Budama counties),
- Mulanda District,
- with a fourth pending for West Budama North & North East.
Ogutu questioned the criteria being used in district creation, arguing that Oyam, with a population exceeding 500,000, is overdue for administrative division. He explained that Oyam currently has:
- 16 administrative units,
- 109 primary schools,
- 13 Health Centre IIIs, excluding Health Centre IIs.
He added that the leaders have designed a petition form and are collecting signatures to remind the President of his commitment.
He emphasized that given the consistent political support that Oyam and the broader Lango Sub-region have given to the NRM government, it was now time for that support to be reciprocated.
Ogutu stated that the people of Oyam had taken up the slogan “No Aber District, No Vote” as a form of peaceful political pressure, and he urged all Members of Parliament from Lango, the two cabinet ministers, Lango Cultural Institution, and other stakeholders to unite and support the demand.
Meanwhile, Santa Alum Ogwang, Woman MP for Oyam District, said the Aber District proposal had already been discussed at the parliamentary level and was only awaiting final approval from the President and his executive.