Tororo Ready to Host 1,000 Delegates for ULGA Meeting as Okea Confirms Presidential Bid..

By Gabriel Oligo and Lazima wangadiya

Tororo District is fully prepared to host the Uganda Local Governments Association (ULGA) meeting, which begins tomorrow, Wednesday, and runs until Friday, with district leaders and utility service providers assuring delegates of adequate security, reliable electricity and uninterrupted water supply.

Tororo LCV Chairperson, John Okea, made the revelation during a press conference held ahead of the meeting, saying preparations were at an advanced stage, with the district scoring 85 percent in its readiness assessment.

The meeting is expected to attract approximately 1,000 delegates from across the country. The Speaker of Parliament is expected to grace the occasion as Guest of Honour, alongside the Minister of Local Government, the Permanent Secretary, the Vice Chancellor of Busitema University, the Governor of Busia County  among other dignitaries.

Okea said the district was working closely with different stakeholders, including utility companies, to ensure that all essential services are in place before the arrival of the delegates.

“We are at a high gear to prepare for this day and ensure that it is a success,” Okea said.

He noted that the recent power challenges caused by a disaster that affected electricity infrastructure had prompted the district to engage the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) to restore and stabilise power supply.

Okea added that the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) was equally involved in the preparations, noting that reliable electricity was essential for uninterrupted water supply.

He emphasised that the district was coordinating with the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), UEDCL and NWSC to ensure that service delivery is not disrupted during the meeting.

The Tororo LCV Chairperson also urged hotels and other hospitality facilities to organise themselves adequately and provide quality services to the expected guests, saying poor service delivery could negatively affect the district’s image.

Meanwhile, NWSC Tororo Area Manager, George Ongwech, assured residents and the organising committee that the corporation was committed to providing reliable water throughout the meeting.

Ongwech said preparations began about two weeks ago after learning that Tororo would host approximately 1,000 delegates.

He explained that Tororo Area comprises five branches and that the corporation had put measures in place to ensure adequate water supply to hotels, businesses and other areas expected to accommodate the visitors.

He said the general water supply situation was good, although the corporation was working to address a few challenges in affected areas to ensure effective service delivery.

Ongwech further revealed that the organising committee had been requested to provide contacts of responsible officials to enable quick communication in case of technical breakdowns.

“We are committing 100 percent reliable water supply in Tororo during this time that we are having these big delegations of guests coming to Tororo,” he said.

He also applauded UEDCL for its timely intervention during a recent power disruption in Tororo, saying the electricity team’s overnight response helped restore power and water supply by the following morning.

On its part, UEDCL assured the district of stable electricity supply during the meeting.

The company’s Acting Manager, Baraza Johnson, said the team had worked closely with other utility service providers to ensure that essential services were restored following the disaster that hit Tororo.

Johnson acknowledged that some areas, particularly those far from the town centre, were still experiencing challenges but said repair works were ongoing. He maintained that electricity supply within Tororo town had stabilised.

UEDCL Engineer, John Bosco katanti, revealed that the disaster had destroyed more than 120 electricity poles but said the company managed to restore the damaged infrastructure within one week.

He said the company had deployed a fully committed and well-trained technical team working around the clock in shifts to respond to any emergencies.

katanti added that a standby team in Mbale was also available to provide additional support whenever necessary.

Okea further assured the public that security arrangements were in place, with security personnel remaining alert across the district, including areas stretching towards the Uganda-Kenya border.

As part of the programme, delegates are expected to undertake courtesy visits to Malaba Border, climb Tororo Rock and tour cement factories and steel manufacturing facilities to appreciate the district’s industrial activities.


In a related development, Okea confirmed that he will contest for the ULGA presidency in the forthcoming nationwide elections.

He revealed that two candidates had so far expressed interest in the position and said he was confident of securing support from Local Council Five (LCV) chairpersons and Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) across the country.

Okea attributed his ambition to his experience in local government leadership,  having previously served as Speaker of the District and Chairperson of the Health and Education Committee before becoming LCV Chairperson.

He said these positions had equipped him with a deeper understanding of the challenges facing local governments, as well as exposure to high-level local government engagements both within Uganda and internationally.

Okea said his experience and understanding of local governance had given him the confidence to seek the national leadership position, pledging to use the opportunity to contribute to the improvement of local government administration in Uganda.

He expressed optimism that his leadership record and experience would earn him the trust of fellow local government leaders as he seeks to lead the association.