Kotido Mayor Re-Elected UAAU Eastern Regional Chairperson – By Richard Onapatum

By Richard Onapatum

Kotido Municipal Mayor Hon. Irar Peter Abrahams has been elected Eastern Regional Chairperson of the Urban Authorities Association of Uganda (UAAU), defeating Busia Municipal Mayor Amin Sadiq in elections held in Hoima City.

Abrahams was elected on 25 September 2026 during the association’s meeting, where urban leaders also elected Lira City Mayor Sam Atul as UAAU national president.

The UAAU represents 742 urban councils nationally, comprising 11 cities, 25 city divisions, 31 municipalities, 89 municipal divisions and 586 town councils.

Abrahams’ regional mandate covers urban authorities across Karamoja, Teso, Busoga, Sebei, Bugisu and Bukedi, placing him at the centre of advocacy for urban infrastructure and service delivery across a wide part of eastern Uganda.

Thanking God and the people of Kotido for supporting his election, Abrahams said his new term would focus on expanding transport networks, improving water access, strengthening sanitation and upgrading infrastructure in urban councils.

“For Kotido Municipality, we need tarmac, street lights and drainage systems. We also need to follow up on tarmacking major roads, including the Moroto-Kotido road, Kotido-Karenga via Kaabong, and Kotido-Soroti via Abim and Amuria, as well as other urban road networks,” Abrahams said.

Photo: Votes lineup to during the exercise at Hoima hotel.

He said road infrastructure would remain a major priority, alongside efforts to improve staffing and service delivery in urban councils.

Abrahams also said piped water systems must be expanded in urban councils, while water sources should also cater for livestock, particularly in areas where pastoral communities interact with growing urban centres.

He called for improved sanitation and street lighting in urban centres, warning that vandalism of public infrastructure would not be tolerated.

“We shall put an enforcement team in uniform. If you vandalise street lights, we shall arrest you and you will either replace the street lights or go to prison,” he said.

Abrahams said modern markets would also receive attention during his term, naming Kotido, Bugiri, Kumi, Kapchorwa and Iganga among the towns where he wants market development followed up.

He further called for the operationalisation of Moroto City and continued development of Tororo City, while advocating for the establishment and development of more cities in other parts of the country.

Abrahams said every sub-region should have a national stadium and an airport, arguing that such infrastructure would improve connectivity, trade, investment and access to services.

For Karamoja, he said urban development must be accompanied by interventions addressing the region’s persistent food insecurity.

He urged the government to increase support to communities affected by hunger while shifting greater attention towards sustainable production through irrigation.

“Irrigation is the answer to hunger in Karamoja. We need tractors and water for production,” Abrahams said.

He proposed a government initiative to establish a major dam in every sub-county in Karamoja to provide water for irrigation and livestock production.

According to Abrahams, reliable water for production would allow communities to produce food locally, reduce dependence on relief and strengthen household livelihoods.

He also urged the government and other stakeholders to continue supporting peace initiatives in Karamoja, saying peace is necessary for investment, agricultural production and long-term development.

Beyond infrastructure, Abrahams pledged to use his new UAAU position to advocate for stronger accountability and action against corruption in urban authorities.

He said public resources should be protected and used for their intended purposes, while urban councils should be supported with adequate staffing and equipment to deliver services.

Abrahams said progress had already been registered during his previous term as Kotido mayor, including an increase in staffing levels, but acknowledged that significant infrastructure and service-delivery gaps remained.

He said his new UAAU leadership role would provide an opportunity to amplify the concerns of urban councils and engage the central government on roads, water, markets, sanitation, staffing and other priorities affecting urban communities.

For Karamoja, he said the focus would ultimately be on linking peace, infrastructure and productive investment to improve livelihoods and reduce dependence on emergency assistance.

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