Nabbanja Carries Lango’s Cry to Museveni: Roads, Palace, Drought and Airport Top Development Agenda

What the report says

Dokolo Post reports that Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja used a thanksgiving event in Lira District to promise that concerns from leaders in the Lango sub-region would be taken to President Yoweri Museveni. Nabbanja represented Museveni at the ceremony for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees Minister Sam Engola at Olilo Primary School in Itek Sub-county on Saturday, July 18, and delivered the President’s Shs20 million contribution to the function.

According to the report, the issues raised included poor roads, drought-related food shortages, Akii-Bua Stadium access, Anai International Airport, the proposed Lira Industrial Park, skilling hubs, roads around Lira University and completion of the Lango Cultural Palace. Nabbanja said government had earlier released Shs1 billion to CMD Investment Ltd for the palace, but the contract was cancelled after the firm was found to be fake. The report says the contractor was ordered to refund Shs1.3 billion and that the UPDF Engineering Brigade will take over the works.

Engola, who is also Erute South MP, thanked Museveni for appointing him to Cabinet and urged residents to focus on poverty-reduction programmes such as the Parish Development Model, Emyooga and Operation Wealth Creation. Lango cultural leader Eng. Dr. Moses Michael Odongo Okune asked for urgent relief over drought and famine concerns, called for restocking funds to reach intended beneficiaries, and offered to help mediate disputes around land for Anai International Airport.

Other leaders also used the event to press development demands. NRM northern vice chairperson Denis Hamson Obua praised support for the ruling party in northern Uganda, while Lango Parliamentary Group chair Patrick Ogwang Obura called for better roads and a larger cattle restocking fund.