Adjumani, Uganda: The Deputy Head of Public Service, Ms Jane Mwesigwa, has appealed to public servants in Adjumani District to focus on creating public value as government works toward transforming Uganda into a modern and progressive nation.
While meeting district leaders and heads of departments on Monday, August 25, 2025, at the district council hall, Ms. Mwesigwa stressed that service delivery outcomes must be the benchmark for assessing the performance of the public service. She pointed to improved health services, better household incomes, and reduced illiteracy as the true indicators of impact.
At the meeting, Adjumani Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Mr. Ocen Andrew, raised concerns over delayed wage funding, which has left several key positions vacant, with many heads of departments serving in acting capacities.
He added that sub-counties remain understaffed, with community development officers (CDOs) and parish chiefs spread too thin.
Ocen further revealed that Pakele Town Council currently has no operational funds, and that education and health facilities serving refugee populations have suffered a severe staffing crisis since NGOs withdrew following the Executive Order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump. He said integrated refugee schools and health centres were left with skeleton staffing after donor cuts.
Adjumani hosts more than 370,000 refugees, mostly from Sudan and South Sudan, according to the latest population data. However, dwindling international support has left refugee response operations struggling, with humanitarian agencies citing donor fatigue.
Ms. Banyenzaki Mayie, Principal Inspector in the Ministry of Local Government, advised the district to integrate refugee concerns into its budgeting process as the government seeks long-term solutions. She cautioned that lamentation without adaptation would not solve the funding crisis.
Responding to the concerns, Ms. Mwesigwa said she would compile a report on the situation in Adjumani and table it before the Cabinet for further action. She, however, tasked public servants to remain accountable and committed to building trust with citizens.
“The offices you hold are in public trust. Citizens should not be chased away from offices that belong to them. Our duty is to be responsive, responsible, and accountable,” she asserted.
She also criticised the persistence of underfunded “idle projects” funded through loans yet misaligned with the National Development Plan (NDP IV). She called for alignment of all development projects to local needs, warning that white elephant projects from the centre risk wasting resources if not integrated into existing structures.
Adjumani RDC, Mr. Taban Data Peter, backed the CAO’s concerns, saying districts are unfairly judged on performance indicators that are beyond their control, especially staffing and recruitment. He faulted the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) for “setting awkward standards” that undermine district delivery capacity.
Taban, however, commended CAO Ocen Andrew for maintaining open consultation with his office and central government representatives, noting that transparency and accountability had reduced suspicion over the use of funds.
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