By Aggrey Baba
The residents of Arua district and Arua city have laid out their development priorities for the next political term as Uganda prepares for the 2026 general elections.
According to a recent survey by Uganda’s leading news publication, voters want urgent action on roads, healthcare, electricity, education, border markets, and youth skills development. The survey shows that the district’s population exceeds 544,000, with over 380,000 living in Arua city.
While subsistence farming dominates the rural areas, the city remains the main business hub of West Nile. Residents point to poor feeder roads, lack of a general hospital, and unequal distribution of Parish Development Model (PDM) funds as key challenges. Larger parishes, the survey says, feel neglected, while smaller ones receive relatively more resources.
Voters also want a technical institute to equip the youth with skills, proper garbage management, and the elevation of Vurra town council to municipality status to strengthen trade. The community emphasises the need for border markets along the Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC) frontier to support regional trade and reduce informal cross-border movement.
Electricity access in rural areas remains limited, affecting both agriculture and small businesses. The people of Arua say government support for agricultural mechanisation, including at least one tractor per sub-county, would boost food security and commercial farming.
However, leaders say some progress has been made, including securing land for garbage management and upgrading schools, according to the district boss Mr. Alfred Okuonzi, but voters insist that major investments are still needed.
Experts note that West Nile has untapped economic potential due to its strategic location and fertile land, but unlocking it will require targeted interventions in infrastructure, healthcare, and education during the next political term.
Survey respondents stressed that the 2026 elections will be influenced by which candidates commit to delivering these development priorities, signaling that voters are ready to hold leaders accountable for tangible and visible change. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
