Acholi Leaders Call for Community-Driven 10-Year Regional Development Plan
By Oola Courage Allan
KITGUM, UGANDA – Leaders in the Acholi sub-region have called for a coordinated, inclusive and community-driven approach to regional development, as stakeholders begin consultations to shape a 10-year Acholi Regional Development Plan aimed at addressing longstanding development challenges and unlocking the region’s economic potential.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ consultation meeting held in Kitgum District Council Hall, Otim Nokrach Chris, the team leader from National Planning Authority, said the process seeks to gather community ideas, development priorities and proposed investments to inform a comprehensive regional plan grounded in research, documented evidence and the lived experiences of the people.
Otim explained that although the plan draws heavily on existing research and documented information, direct contributions from communities and stakeholders are essential to ensure that proposed interventions reflect the region’s actual needs and priorities.
He revealed that a follow-up engagement with Members of Parliament from the Acholi sub-region was planned for the following week to gather additional proposals before consultations with development partners, government ministries and agencies.
According to Otim, the engagements are intended to assess the feasibility and implementability of the proposed interventions before the regional investment plan is submitted to Cabinet for consideration and adoption.
He emphasised that the responsibility for implementing the plan would extend beyond government to include cultural and religious leaders, local governments, development partners and other stakeholders operating in the region.
“We need a holistic plan that informs the actions of all development actors. We do not need interventions that are not approved by the communities and stakeholders they are intended to serve,” Otim said, highlighting the importance of local ownership and coordinated planning.
The 10-year plan is expected to align with Uganda’s Fourth and Fifth National Development Plans (NDP IV and NDP V), within the broader framework of Uganda Vision 2040, to ensure that regional priorities complement national development objectives.
Otim noted that Acholi’s development challenges are rooted in a complex history, including colonial-era legacies, post-independence governance challenges, prolonged conflicts and the difficulties associated with post-conflict recovery.
He acknowledged that significant progress had been made but stressed that greater investment in human resource development remains critical to accelerating the region’s transformation.
He added that issues raised through the Raco Pacho process had informed the ongoing consultations, providing an opportunity to consolidate community priorities and present them to the national government for consideration and investment.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chairperson, Hon. Opon Smith, called on leaders and stakeholders to work collectively to advance development in the Acholi sub-region while safeguarding its natural resources and strengthening social protection.
Opon emphasised the need to protect forest cover and ensure responsible management of the region’s natural resources, particularly considering the anticipated mining of graphite in Orom East.
He also called for deliberate investment in industrial development to create economic opportunities, stimulate local production and support employment for the region’s growing population.
However, the Vice Chairperson cautioned that economic development must go hand in hand with social transformation, particularly efforts to address teenage pregnancies and gender-based violence.
He observed that strengthening gender-responsive development strategies would contribute to improved access to education, better health outcomes and enhanced opportunities for women, girls and other vulnerable groups.
Opon stressed that the proposed regional development plan should therefore balance economic growth, environmental conservation and social welfare to ensure that the benefits of development reach communities across the sub-region.
A shared roadmap for Acholi’s transformation
The consultation marks an important step towards developing a common regional investment framework that brings together community priorities, government programmes and partner interventions under a shared development agenda.
Once finalised and adopted through the appropriate government processes, the plan is expected to provide strategic direction for investment in human capital, infrastructure, natural resource management, industrial development and social transformation across Acholi.
Stakeholders have been urged to actively participate in the consultation process to ensure that the final plan reflects the aspirations of the people and provides a practical roadmap for sustainable and inclusive development over the next decade.
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