Residents of Arua Central Division have called on their leaders to prioritize regular community consultations, saying the lack of engagement has contributed to poor responses to pressing social and economic challenges affecting their communities.
The residents said they continue to grapple with problems including poor healthcare, unemployment, inadequate sanitation, poor road infrastructure and land-related conflicts, but their views are rarely sought before decisions are made by the division council.
In interviews with Uganda Radio Network (URN), several residents accused elected leaders of abandoning regular interactions with communities after winning elections.
Catherine Abau, a resident of the division, said consistent community engagements would enable leaders to better understand the challenges affecting residents and develop more effective solutions.
She noted that while leaders actively interacted with communities during the election period, such engagements have largely ceased.
Arua Central Division comprises six wards,Mvara, Awindiri, Pangisha, Kenya, Basaar and Tanganyika, whose residents depend on the division as their primary local government authority for service delivery.
Residents identified health services, education, sanitation and unemployment among the priority issues requiring urgent attention. They said regular dialogue with leaders would help identify practical solutions and improve service delivery.
The concerns were raised during a dialogue organized by the Women Democracy Network to create a platform for residents and local leaders to discuss service delivery challenges in the division.
Another resident, Rogers Aliga, urged leaders to address growing insecurity and land-related conflicts through sustained engagement with community members.
He said regular consultations would enable leaders to respond more effectively to the concerns raised by residents.
Division leaders acknowledged the concerns, admitting that limited community engagement has created a disconnect between residents and the council.
Awindiri Ward Female Councillor Nadia Iddi Hassan, who also coordinates the Women Democracy Network, commended residents for actively participating in the dialogue, saying such engagements provide leaders with valuable community feedback that supports informed decision-making and improves the implementation of government programmes.
Arua Central Division Council Speaker Rasul Osuga pledged that the council would prioritize regular community engagements to strengthen communication between leaders and residents.
He said the meetings would provide a platform for residents to share their concerns, receive feedback from leaders, and jointly identify solutions to challenges affecting their communities. Residents also called on the division to improve road conditions and address persistent garbage accumulation along streets within the division-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
