Adropi Sub-county in the West Nile district of Adjumani has strengthened its reputation for transparency after hosting its annual public accountability forum, where civil servants and elected leaders presented achievement reports and engaged residents on development challenges.
The event, known as Adropi Day and held every February, took place on Saturday at the sub-county headquarters, drawing residents, local leaders and invited stakeholders.
The forum is designed to review progress, identify service delivery gaps and mobilise the community towards social and economic transformation.
Acting Senior Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Scovia Abio said the initiative has significantly enhanced accountability and citizen participation in governance.
“For the past five years, Adropi Sub-county has been presenting annual status and achievement reports to the public during this gathering. This helps our people to understand what has been achieved, where we have challenges and how we can improve service delivery,” Abio said.
She explained that beyond accountability, the annual gathering also serves as a learning platform. Professionals from key sectors are invited to share expertise and motivate residents to adopt income-generating and socially beneficial practices.
“We invited stakeholders from agriculture, education and health to motivate our people to embrace hard work and adopt practices that improve household incomes and living standards,” she noted.
Established as an administrative area in 1938, Adropi Sub-county has a population of 11,942 people across five parishes.
Among the guest speakers was Jackline Kinyaa, who delivered a presentation on poultry farming and encouraged residents to treat agriculture as a business venture.
“When knowledge comes from experts, it inspires people to make informed decisions. Poultry farming can generate steady income to meet household needs if it is well managed,” Kinyaa said, urging participants to share the knowledge within their communities.
Lulu Henry Leku, the Assistant District Health Officer in charge of Child and Maternal Health in Adjumani District, warned about the persistent challenge of teenage pregnancy, which he said undermines education and long-term community development.
“Teenage pregnancy destroys the future of our girls and increases poverty in families. Parents and young people must work together to prevent early pregnancies through guidance, discipline and responsible behavior,” Leku told the gathering.
The district LCV Chairperson, Ben Anyama, commended the people of Adropi for their unity and commitment to development, describing the annual celebration as a powerful accountability tool.
“Adropi has set a good example for other sub-counties. When leaders report to the people and the people participate, development becomes easier,” Anyama said.
He urged residents to continue embracing government programmes aimed at improving household incomes and reducing poverty.
“I encourage you to prioritize education, health and agriculture as the pillars for sustainable development in this sub-county,” he added.
The celebrations concluded with a renewed call for cooperation between local leaders and residents to strengthen service delivery and promote social transformation across the sub-county.