Residents of Kamuli District have intensified demands for accountability from civil servants, citing poor management of public resources and weak implementation of government programs as key drivers of persistent service delivery failures. The concerns were raised during a well-attended public baraza held at the district Boma grounds.
The forum was organised by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Kamuli District Local Government, Twaweza Uganda, and the AIDS Education Group for Youth (AEGY) to foster open dialogue between citizens and duty bearers.
Community members voiced frustrations over what they described as unfulfilled government promises, including poor road conditions, chronic drug shortages in public health facilities, and development initiatives that appear to benefit only a select few.
“This is a total shame and an embarrassment that we have a district engineer,” said Yokana Mirimo of Kasozi Parish, sparking both laughter and applause as she questioned the state of roads that become impassable during rainy seasons.
“It is ironic and ridiculous, given the sorrowful state of our roads.”
District Engineer Daniel Mufumba attributed the dire state of infrastructure to numerous operational challenges, including multiple swamp crossings, an incomplete road unit, and drastic reductions in the district’s Indicative Planning Figures (IPFs) — from Shs 1 billion to Shs 300 million.
“The funding cuts have made it impossible to retain road maintenance teams. We request that the IPFs be restored to previous levels,” he said.
Mufumba further criticised some Members of Parliament for meddling in technical processes, including road costing, which he said violates Ministry of Works guidelines.
Kamuli District Internal Security Officer James Kawa warned the public about manipulation by corrupt officials attempting to evade accountability. He also took aim at central government oversight bodies, accusing some officers of conducting superficial monitoring visits.
“Some OPM officers sneak in here with their own agendas and leave quietly, wasting government fuel in the name of supervision,” Kawa said.
Residents also raised concerns over drug stockouts and alleged extortion at Kamuli General Hospital.
“The daily purchase of drugs outside the hospital makes us question whether government still stocks its facilities,” said John Waiswa of Balawoli Sub-county. He accused some clinicians of routinely charging illegal fees, particularly in maternity and pediatric wards.
Assistant District Health Officer Moses Lyagoba acknowledged increasing pressure on health facilities, noting that National Medical Stores supplies have not kept pace with rapid population growth.
Kamuli Hospital Medical Superintendent Lazarus Butenya confirmed isolated cases of fraudulent charges and announced new measures to address them.
“We have introduced suggestion boxes and are working on telephone lines for real-time patient reporting,” he said.
AEGY Principal Research Project Officer Helen Azira emphasised that the baraza plays a critical role in amplifying citizen voices.
“This baraza aligns strongly with Twaweza’s mission of empowering citizens and promoting government responsiveness,” she said.
As the January 2026 general elections draw closer, the baraza underscored a rising demand for transparency, stronger oversight of public officials, and meaningful responses to community concerns. District leaders now face mounting pressure to address long-standing service delivery gaps and restore public trust.