Amolatar MPs-Elect Outline Key Development Priorities

By Patrick Okino

Three Members of Parliament-elect from Amolatar District have outlined their top priorities for immediate engagement with the government during their five-year tenure.

The legislators — Geoffrey Ocen Kiring (Kioga North), Janet Auma Okao (Amolatar District Woman MP), and Collin Angwec (Kioga County) — have identified the upgrade of Amolatar Health Centre IV, tarmacking of the Namasale–Ochero-Dokolo Road, and construction of the Centre of Uganda monument at Acii Village as key development priorities.

The incoming MPs, who subscribe to the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), pledged to work with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) under the leadership of President Yoweri Museveni to ensure service delivery.

Speaking during a meeting held at the district headquarters on Monday, February 23, chaired by Ocen — who is also the current LC5 Chairperson — the leaders emphasized the importance of working closely with President Museveni to realize meaningful development.

Ocen said the time for politicking is over and that leaders must now focus on delivering services to the people who entrusted them with the mandate, regardless of political affiliation.

“We are more than ready to work for everyone. Let us forget what happened and desist from infighting, which has affected the development of our district,” he said. The district has 16 administrative units, 85 parishes and 581 villages.

Auma noted that upgrading Amolatar Health Centre IV to a district hospital is their top priority to improve access to quality healthcare services.

She stressed that coordination with President Museveni is essential to achieve such development goals, adding that working with the President should not be misconstrued as defection.

“Amolatar has critical areas that need the President’s intervention, and previously there had not been sufficient initiatives,” she said.

Additional priorities

Residents also raised several pressing concerns that they want addressed.

Fred Ogwang, a resident of Etam Sub-county, highlighted the lack of administrative headquarters in five sub-counties — Etam, Acii, Agikdak, Akwon, and Abeja — many of which are currently operating in rented premises.

He noted that raising local revenue to pay rent is a burden to administrative units and that communities face accessibility challenges. He also called for the completion of Arwotcek to improve access to administrative services.

Ogwang further pointed out the absence of seed secondary schools in the area and proposed the establishment of at least one technical institute in addition to Namasale Technical Institute to expand access to secondary and vocational education.

He also urged the government to introduce ferry services on Lake Kwania to link Abeja in Amolatar District to Nambieso in Kwania District.

Rembo Ongu, LC3 Chairperson of Namasale Sub-county, advised the MPs to lobby for a review of the age eligibility for the Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE), proposing that it be reduced from 80 years to 65 years.

He argued that many citizens do not live to the age of 80 and therefore miss out on benefiting from the program.

Ongu also emphasized the urgent need to construct administrative units, noting that sub-counties lack sufficient revenue to fund such infrastructure projects independently.

He called on leaders to put aside political differences, reconcile, and work together to advance development in Amolatar District.