Kotido, Uganda: Women leaders in North Eastern Uganda’s Kotido District have confronted government officials over persistent service delivery gaps, raising concerns about drug stockouts, poor infrastructure, and limited access to basic services during a high-level accountability meeting.
The interface meeting, organised by Nakere Rural Women Activists under the Women’s Amplified Voices for Accountability (WAVA) Project, brought together over 100 women leaders from Kapeta and Kacheri sub-counties, alongside district officials and members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
The engagement followed a community-led monitoring exercise in schools and health facilities, where women documented critical gaps affecting livelihoods.
During the meeting, women leaders presented firsthand findings highlighting ongoing challenges in accessing essential services.
“We found that mothers are still walking long distances to access basic health services, and sometimes the health centres have no drugs,” said Chilla Anna, Chairperson of the Kapeta Women Network.
Participants also cited poor road networks and inadequate access to safe water as major barriers to service delivery in several communities.
District officials acknowledged the concerns, attributing the challenges to resource limitations and delays in implementation.
“We appreciate the monitoring work done by the women groups. These findings help us understand where the gaps are, and we are committed to addressing them progressively,” said Nyanga Fredrick Emmanuel, representing the Chief Administrative Officer.
Members of the Public Accounts Committee emphasised the importance of citizen participation in strengthening accountability.
“Community monitoring is a strong tool. When citizens provide evidence like this, it strengthens our oversight role,” said Loboke Henry, Chairperson of the PAC.
The meeting also exposed broader governance issues, including delayed project execution, weak supervision of government programmes, and gaps in monitoring at lower local government levels.
Organisers said such dialogues are essential in bridging the gap between citizens and duty bearers, particularly by empowering women to take an active role in governance.
NARWOA Project Officer Okongo Patrick Michael said the WAVA Project is focused on promoting grassroots advocacy and strengthening community-led monitoring mechanisms.
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