Government Urges Unity, Accountability in Service Delivery as RDC Secretariat Engages Lira City Leaders

By Richard Onapatum

Lira City – Senior government officials from the Office of the President have called on leaders in Lira City to embrace unity, transparency, and active citizen engagement to improve public service delivery across key sectors.

The call was made during a high-level mobilisation meeting held on Friday, where Lt Col (Rtd) Ambako Kibrai, Senior Presidential Advisor on Mobilisation, decried persistent irregularities in education and healthcare services—two of the most critical pillars of human development.

Kibrai voiced concern over continued surcharges in schools despite the government’s commitment to free primary and secondary education.

“The government pays for tuition, facilities, and learning materials. Parents are only expected to provide meals,” he noted. “Yet we continue to see additional charges that burden families and undermine the spirit of Universal Primary and Secondary Education.”

He further flagged inefficiencies in the Education Management Information System (EMIS), which he said fails to track learners through the full education cycle. According to Kibrai, out of one million children who begin Primary One, only about 600,000 complete Primary Seven.

“Where do the 400,000 go? Who is accountable?” he asked. “We must reflect on the roles of parents, teachers, and leaders in ensuring our children stay in school.”

On the health front, Kibrai acknowledged progress in medical supplies but raised alarm over recurring stockouts in public health centres.

“When medicines run out, health workers must communicate honestly with patients. A lack of transparency only breeds frustration and mistrust,” he said, urging for enhanced grassroots mobilisation to strengthen awareness on primary healthcare.

The meeting was convened by Maj. Martha Asiimwe, Head of the RDC Secretariat and Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), together with her deputy, Dr. Str Akiror MaryGrace. The session brought together political, technical, religious, and civil society leaders from across Lira City, aimed at evaluating the practical impact of government programmes on citizens.

Dr. Akiror underscored the Secretariat’s mandate, established in 2018 by President Yoweri Museveni, to monitor service delivery and promote integrity in public service.

“Our focus today is not corruption but service delivery. Our people are hungering for services, and it is our duty as stewards to ensure every resource sent by government is put to proper use,” she said.

She called for greater accountability from public servants.

“Some officers vanish from duty but expect salaries at the end of the month. For what service exactly?” she asked. “This is a wake-up call. Each of us must ask: what legacy will I leave behind?”

Dr. Akiror emphasized the moral and professional responsibility of every official.

“If a patient dies because a doctor was absent, who is responsible for that life lost? These are the hard truths we must confront.”

Maj. Asiimwe reinforced the message of collective responsibility and commended the improving security in Lira City, attributing it to proactive local leadership.

“We work directly under the Office of the President. While our role may appear political, our mission is deeply rooted in mobilising citizens toward better livelihoods,” she explained.

She praised the City Clerk for exemplary performance and urged other leaders to emulate such dedication.

“Tough times don’t last, but tough teams do,” Asiimwe said. “Government alone cannot do it. We need synergy among mayors, technical officers, RDCs, and citizens to make service delivery meaningful.”

She also stressed the role of communication in governance.

“Delivering services without informing people is like pouring water into a container that no one drinks from. Information is not a luxury—it is part of the delivery itself.”

Lira City was chosen as the launchpad for the Secretariat’s nationwide mobilisation drive due to its central role in the Lango Sub-region.

“If we begin at the centre, the message will reach the peripheries. From Lira, we speak to Amolatar, Otuke, Alebtong, and beyond,” Maj. Asiimwe said.

The meeting closed with a unified call to action for leaders at all levels to rise above partisanship and channel their efforts toward practical, people-centred solutions.

“It is not about who we support politically—it is about the ordinary Ugandan who walks into a hospital, a school, or an office seeking help. That is who we serve,” concluded Dr. Akiror.