Residents of Napak Town Council, Uganda, voiced concerns over stalled infrastructure projects and inadequate public services during a community engagement forum held on March 27, 2026, at Lorengecora Ward B, Lobu-Alowalem Village. The meeting, organized by the Karamoja Anti-Corruption Coalition (KACC), aimed to improve service delivery and promote transparency at the local level.
A central grievance raised by community members centered on the incomplete construction of the Kalochelel Health Centre. Awarded to a contractor three years prior, the facility remains unfinished, leaving residents without adequate healthcare access. Participants reported that the contractor initially delivered some construction materials to the site but subsequently abandoned the project, leaving the structure in a state of disrepair.
Beyond healthcare, residents highlighted a lack of functional street lighting throughout Napak Town Council. The absence of illumination creates safety concerns and hinders nighttime activity, impacting local businesses and community life. Town Clerk Teko John Bosco committed to following up with relevant authorities to address the issue, though a timeline for resolution remains unclear.
Challenges within the health sector extended to the Lorengecora Health Centre III, where participants cited limited staff accommodation and insufficient facilities in the maternity ward. The maternity ward, in particular, suffers from a shortage of beds, potentially compromising patient care. These issues underscore broader systemic challenges facing healthcare provision in the Karamoja sub-region.
Concerns similarly surfaced regarding the education sector, with reports of primary school teachers consistently arriving late to work, sometimes not reporting for duty until the third week of the school term. This irregular attendance disrupts the learning process and negatively impacts student outcomes.
The implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM), a government initiative aimed at poverty reduction, also drew scrutiny. Beneficiaries expressed multiple concerns regarding the program’s effectiveness and equitable distribution of resources. Details of these concerns were not immediately available, but the issues suggest potential challenges in the PDM’s implementation at the local level.
Napak Town Council Mayor Jacob Lochoro urged citizens to actively report service delivery challenges and emphasized the importance of collective responsibility in combating corruption. He stated that the fight against corruption must begin within households and extend throughout the community.
Dr. Ayub Mukisa, Executive Director of KACC, expressed appreciation for the Napak Town Council leadership’s participation and the commitments made during the baraza. KACC is implementing the Civic Engagement for Accountability Project (CEAP) in partnership with the Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda (ACCU) and Transparency International Uganda. The project receives financial support from the Embassies of Denmark, Ireland, Sweden and the Netherlands.
