The Gulu City Mayor, Julius Acire Labeja, has warned the new city council against corruption, urging them to uphold integrity, transparency, and accountability as they begin their five-year term in office.
Labeja, who won the January mayoral elections on the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket, officially assumed office on Tuesday at Gulu City Council headquarters.
He succeeded Alfred Okwonga, who served one term. He was sworn in by the Gulu Chief Magistrate, Augustine Alule Koma.
Speaking after the swearing-in ceremony of council executives and committee chairpersons, Labeja told councillors that his administration would not tolerate corruption or under-the-table dealings.
“We must embrace integrity and transparency. This administration will not allow under-the-table kind of dealings because I assured voters that I came with a table and everything happens on top of the table.” Said Labeja.
The mayor reminded leaders that their positions are not privileges but responsibilities entrusted to them by the people of Gulu City.
“This position is not that of privilege, but rather a responsibility on our shoulders to deliver and repay the trust that the people of Gulu City have invested in us,” he said.
Labeja warned councilors against using public office for personal enrichment, saying leaders who seek wealth through public resources would ultimately fail.
Labeja also emphasized the need for unity among councillors regardless of political affiliation, warning against division and partisan politics within the council.
“We are not NRM, FDC, NUP, or UPC here. We are citizens of Gulu City, and we must work together for the good of our people,” he said. The mayor further called for close cooperation between politicians and technocrats, saying both sides perform complementary roles in delivering services to the public.
He urged council members to focus on improving service delivery, including clean water, sanitation, security, health services, education, and better infrastructure for residents.
During the first council session held to kick-start the 12-member council, Labeja also nominated his four-man executives.
They include Deputy Geoffrey Ali. Meanwhile, Christine Olok assumed the role of Secretary for Administration and Finance, Suzan Acan, who was nominated as Secretary for social community-based services, and Patrick Ojok as Secretary for social works, production, and technical services.
At the same event, a new speaker for the city council, Lamex Lambert Akena, was elected unopposed. He will be deputised by Venesa Anyango, who also went unopposed. I
The new speaker pledged to steer the city council with integrity and impartiality.
Morris Odong, the LCV Councilor for Laroo-Pece Division and the only opposition Councilor, however, criticized the election process held, citing that the procedures were irregular.
He said the council sitting started unusually without the adoption of the order paper, adding that the councilors also hurriedly closed nominations without allowing the speaker to close it.
Odong nonetheless said he is optimistic about objectively debating despite being the only opposition through providing checks and balances in the council house-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
