GULU CITY LEADERS WARN AGAINST CORRUPTION, INSECURITY AND POOR SERVICE DELIVERY

Okello Patrick, Bardege-Layibi city division mayor while swearing at logistic hub.

By Biko Rombe

Gulu City

Newly sworn-in leaders in Gulu City have pledged to fight corruption, insecurity, unemployment and poor public service delivery as they begin a new political term, 2026 to 2031.

The commitments were made during the inauguration and swearing-in ceremony of the Bardege-Layibi city division leadership held at the Logistics Hub on May 20, where outgoing Bardege-Layibi city division mayor Patrick Lumumba, incoming Bardege-Layibi city division mayor Okello Patrick and Julius Labega, the Gulu city Mayor addressed residents and leaders on the future of the city division.

In his address, outgoing division mayor Patrick Lumumba defended his 20-year leadership record, saying his administration transformed the division from a struggling local government into one of the best-performing divisions in Uganda.

He said local revenue collection rose from UGX 400 million to nearly UGX 1 billion during his tenure, while governance performance improved from 65 percent to 96 percent.

Lumumba attributed the progress to what he described as clean leadership free from corruption and internal wrangles. He noted that his administration prioritized sanitation, road construction and public infrastructure, adding that Gulu became second cleanest cities in Uganda after Kampala.

Among the projects he highlighted were the construction of bridges in Alokolum, opening of access roads to Oitino Health Centre II and the construction of a dormitory at Mary Immaculate Primary School, which he said had become a model project admired by the Ministry of Education.

However, despite the achievements highlighted by the outgoing leadership, the incoming city authorities admitted that major social and economic challenges continue to affect residents.

Julius Labega Gulu city mayor while addressing newly sworn leaders and the public.

Gulu City Mayor Julius Labega painted a picture of a city struggling with insecurity, darkness at night, unemployment and poor waste management. He warned that corruption and weak service delivery were undermining public trust and slowing development.

“We also have a city where we still hear gunshots and people being murdered,” Labega said while calling for urgent reforms in security and governance.

Labega pledged a zero-tolerance approach to corruption, warning that public officials who misuse government resources would not be protected. He said his administration would strengthen accountability systems and ensure transparency in public spending.

The mayor also stressed the need to improve public services through partnerships with the private sector, especially in waste management and job creation. According to him, Gulu generates more than 100 tons of garbage daily, which he described as an untapped economic opportunity.

He praised local recycling initiatives such as Takataka Plastics and encouraged more private investors to participate in waste recycling and environmental protection efforts.

On youth unemployment, Labega linked lack of economic opportunities to rising insecurity, saying idle youth were increasingly becoming vulnerable to crime. He promised to attract investment, expand market infrastructure and create a business-friendly environment capable of generating employment.

The city mayor further revealed that Gulu currently consumes less than half of its available electricity supply, a situation he said presents an opportunity to attract industries and investors into the region.

Meanwhile, division mayor Okello Patrick promised a leadership style focused on grassroots engagement rather than office work. He said he would spend most of his time in communities monitoring roads, schools, health centers and government programs.

Okello also identified land conflicts and misuse of government programs as major challenges affecting ordinary residents. He accused some local officials of favoritism and diverting benefits meant for vulnerable citizens.

“The moment you tamper with people’s money, the law will deal with you,” he warned.

He further pledged to publicize all locally collected revenue through public notice boards to promote transparency and rebuild public confidence in local leadership.

Security and protection of children also emerged as a major concern during his speech, with the mayor condemning rising cases of children roaming the streets during school hours and increasing urban disorder.

Leaders and members of the public during the swearing in of Bardege-Layibi city division leaders

The speeches reflected a broader concern among leaders that while Gulu City has registered visible infrastructural growth in recent years, deeper social problems such as corruption, unemployment, insecurity and poor civic responsibility continue to threaten the city’s progress.

As the new administration officially takes office, residents are now expected to judge the leaders not by promises but by their ability to improve public services, strengthen accountability and restore confidence in local governance over the next five years.