Obongi District, Uganda – The Deputy Head of the RDCs Secretariat in the Office of the President, Rev. Sr. Dr. Grace Mary Akiror, has challenged leaders and the wider community of Obongi District to rise up and confront pressing issues such as corruption and defilement, which she said remain rampant in the area.
Rev. Sr. Dr. Akiror made the remarks during a service delivery meeting held at the Chief Administrative Officer’s (CAO) boardroom at the Obongi District Headquarters. The meeting was organized by the RDCs Secretariat as part of a national effort to improve transparency and governance at the local level.
Her comments came in response to concerns raised by local leaders and technical staff, including the LC3 Chairperson of Ewafa Subcounty, who also serves as the Chairperson of Chairpersons in Obongi, and Mr. Erwaga Luke, LC3 Chairperson of Palorinya Subcounty. The leaders decried the district’s stagnation, blaming it on rampant corruption and poor service delivery.
They further lamented that Obongi is among the poorest-performing districts in Uganda academically, attributing this to high levels of defilement, early marriages, and child labor in fishing communities.
Rev. Sr. Dr. Akiror, who also serves as Deputy Head of the Anti-Corruption Unit in the President’s Office, described the state of affairs as “terrible” and demanded greater accountability from district officials.
She reiterated that the RDCs Secretariat, working alongside the anti-corruption unit, would continue to support efforts to hold public officials accountable and ensure that corruption is met with firm action.
“We cannot talk about development when public funds are being misused. Leaders must account for every shilling,” she emphasized.
Obongi RDC Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka reported that over 200 corruption cases are currently under investigation by the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), Police, and the State House Anti-Corruption Unit.
He revealed that these investigations have already resulted in the interdiction of five senior civil servants, who are now facing trial before the Anti-Corruption Court.
Hashaka also disclosed that one civil servant has been dismissed following an investigation by the IGG.
In light of the growing concerns, district leaders resolved to push for the speedy investigation and prosecution of all pending corruption cases, including several that have been unresolved for over two years.
Meanwhile, Obedi Collins, the Regional Commissioner for RDCs in West Nile, expressed deep concern about the high rates of defilement and early marriages in Obongi.
He noted that these vices have significantly contributed to the high school dropout rate, and called for immediate and coordinated action to protect children and promote education.
