Civil society organisations, local leaders and community representatives from across the Teso sub-region have unveiled a Teso Sub-regional Citizens’ Charter, demanding urgent reforms in governance, service delivery and policy design ahead of the 2026–2031 planning period.
The charter, launched in Soroti, is the outcome of a consultative process that began in June this year, bringing together stakeholders from local governments, civil society, the media and ordinary citizens to identify priority areas affecting livelihoods in Teso.
Speaking at the launch, Moses Okoyed, an official with the Church of Uganda’s Teso Diocesan Development Office (TEDO), said the document reflects the collective voice of the people and should guide government planning and budgeting at all levels.
“This is a very special day for Teso. The citizens’ charter is a consensus of the people, clearly outlining priority areas government must focus on in the next five years,” Okoyed said.
PDM Transparency Questioned
Top among the concerns raised in the charter is the implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM). Stakeholders accuse officials of poor transparency and alleged corruption in the selection of beneficiaries.
According to Okoyed, communities reported being asked to pay between Shs30,000 and Shs50,000 to be enrolled on beneficiary lists, while some recipients reportedly received Shs400,000 or Shs600,000, instead of the policy-stipulated Shs1 million.
“As a sub-region, we are calling for strengthened monitoring and accountability in the implementation of PDM,” he noted.
Health Sector Strain
The charter also highlights critical gaps in the health sector, including inadequate funding, understaffing, frequent drug stock-outs and a weak referral system.
Health centres in Teso were cited as lacking ambulances despite handling emergencies daily, a situation stakeholders say has contributed to delays and preventable deaths.
Stakeholders are urging government to map and upgrade key health facilities, equip them with adequate medicines and equipment, and align services with population needs.
Call for Financing Reforms
Benson Ekue, Director of the Public Affairs Centre, went further to criticise Uganda’s broader policy and financing models, particularly in health and education.
Ekue described the current out-of-pocket health financing system as outdated and dangerous, arguing that it exposes citizens to catastrophic health costs.
“Out-of-pocket financing was abandoned by the World Health Organization many years ago. You cannot fit the health challenges of Ugandans into a small budget and expect it to work,” Ekue said.
He called for adoption of a pooling model of health financing, similar to systems used in countries such as Ghana, Kenya and South Africa, where resources are pooled through health schemes, services are standardised and payments centrally managed.
Education and Agriculture Concerns
In the education sector, the charter notes that rising enrolment has overwhelmed schools, while infrastructure and teacher numbers remain inadequate. Stakeholders want local governments to prioritise teacher recruitment and classroom construction to meet national standards.
Agriculture, a backbone of the Teso economy, was flagged for lacking extension services, with many farmers saying they have never seen an extension worker.
“People are doing agriculture on their own, relying on guesswork. Many have suffered losses due to fake or poor-quality inputs,” Okoyed said.
The charter recommends deploying subject-matter specialists at sub-county or parish level to support farmers and boost productivity.
Roads and Equipment Shortage
On road infrastructure, stakeholders acknowledged government allocations of Shs1 billion per district for road maintenance but said the funds are insufficient to address the poor state of district and community access roads.
During the rainy season, residents struggle to reach schools, health facilities and markets, worsening poverty levels.
Concerns were also raised about the limited number of road construction equipment, noting that a single excavator serving the entire eastern region has caused long delays in road works.
Planning Tool for Local Governments
Stakeholders called on district and municipal authorities to adopt the Citizens’ Charter as a core planning document, ensuring its priorities are reflected in development plans and budgets from 2026 to 2031.
“This charter should guide planning in every sphere. It captures the real issues affecting citizens — from PDM and health to education, agriculture and infrastructure,” Ekue said.
The Teso Sub-regional Citizens’ Charter is expected to be presented to district councils, Members of Parliament and relevant ministries as communities intensify pressure for inclusive, accountable and people-centred development.