Dr. Sr.Mary Grace Akiror issues Stern Warning over poor Service Delivery in Soroti 

Soroti - The Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) Secretariat under the Office of the President has issued a stern warning to government officials in Soroti District over poor service delivery, cautioning that officials found responsible for mismanagement of government projects could face arrest.

The warning was issued on Friday, August 7, 2026, during a monitoring visit led by Dr. Sr. Mary Grace Akiror, Deputy Head of the RDC Secretariat and Anti-Corruption Unit in the Office of the President after inspecting several government projects, including boreholes, schools, roads and health facilities, amid concerns over the quality, management versus value for money 

The routine country wide monitoring exercise came against the backdrop of a national local government performance assessment that placed Soroti District at position 158, among the lowest-performing local governments in service delivery.

Akiror said government officials must now move beyond explanations and take concrete action to improve service delivery. “We are reaching a point where discussions will cease; there are no more wake-up calls. We have taken enough time—now we must take action,” she said.

She urged public servants to demonstrate integrity, patriotism and commitment to their responsibilities, warning that failure to deliver government services would have consequences. Akiror challenged officials who were unable to improve performance to consider stepping aside, saying decentralisation was intended to bring government services closer to the people.

“If you are unable to make a change, then perhaps you should consider resigning. Decentralization should bring you closer to the people, but if services aren’t improving, how will you be received in your village when your time in office ends?” she asked.

She also cautioned district leaders against frustrating Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) who are attempting to implement reforms while protecting officials accused of corruption. Sr.Akiror called upon technical staff to critically assess their performance, identify weaknesses and ensure that government programmes are implemented efficiently and transparently.

A Shs88 million renovation at Aminit Primary School was questioned over incomplete works and alleged poor workmanship. The team also raised concerns about the Shs119 million Lira-Kamuda-Aboket road, which reportedly suffers from poor maintenance and inadequate equipment.

In Tubur Town Council, a Shs459 million low-cost sealing project was also criticised for failing to incorporate speed humps despite reported frequent accidents.

District officials attributed some challenges to inadequate funding, equipment shortages and staffing gaps. Only three of the 12 departmental heads are reportedly in substantive positions, while the health sector has only 24 percent of approved positions filled.

Akiror warned that the period of repeated discussions and warnings was ending and that officials responsible for mismanagement could face enforcement action, including arrest.

The monitoring team urged district leaders and technical staff to improve accountability, project supervision, value for money and service delivery.

The Soroti District Chairperson Bob Owiny called on government officials to heed the warnings and use the opportunity to correct weaknesses before enforcement measures are taken. He said improved service delivery requires both political and technical leaders to take responsibility for their respective roles and ensure that government programmes benefit the intended communities.