In a major step towards improving service delivery for both refugee and host communities, the Obongi District Local Government has commissioned infrastructure projects worth over Shs 4 billion.
The projects were implemented under the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP) with additional financing from the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development – Additional Financing (USMID-AF).
The newly commissioned facilities, which span the health, education, sanitation, and economic sectors, include Maruaam access roads, an isolation ward at Lomunga Health Centre, and a modern production office complex.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony held on Wednesday, Obongi Chief Administrative Officer Ben Humphrey Otim hailed the completion of the projects as timely and crucial.
“These investments have come at the right time when our communities are in dire need of improved public services. We urge beneficiaries to use and maintain them responsibly to ensure long-term sustainability,” Otim said.
Obongi Resident District Commissioner Samuel Mpimbaza Hashaka, who presided over the event, underscored the importance of community ownership.
“I call upon all residents to safeguard these government projects. Vandalism must be rejected by every well-meaning citizen. These facilities are for our children and future generations,” Hashaka emphasized.
He further reiterated the government’s commitment to inclusive development and peacebuilding, especially in refugee-hosting areas such as Obongi.
Obongi District local council five chairperson Hajji Buga Habib Khemis described the projects as a “game changer” and a symbol of government’s responsiveness to grassroots needs.
“The face of Obongi is changing. These facilities will boost livelihoods, improve access to services, and foster dignity among our people. Let us all cooperate to protect them,” Khemis appealed.
Hamid Drate, the DRDIP Desk Officer and District Physical Planner, commended the synergy between stakeholders and highlighted the planning process that informed project selection.
“We consulted widely and prioritised interventions that address real gaps in infrastructure and livelihoods. What you see today is a result of community-driven planning aligned with national development goals,” Drate stated.
The commissioning ceremony brought together district leaders, technical staff, development partners, and community members, all united in celebrating infrastructure that promises to transform lives in one of Uganda’s youngest districts.
