October 16, 2025 – Napak District, Karamoja Region, Uganda

In a rare and uplifting visit to one of Uganda’s most isolated communities, Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Milton Odongo has sparked renewed optimism among the residents of Kobolin Parish in Apeitolim Sub-County, Napak District.

On October 16, Odongo, accompanied by a security team, led a Baraza community meeting at Kobolin I Central and Kotirwae Villages—the first such engagement by an RDC in the area in six years. The local population, numbering over 10,118, expressed profound gratitude to His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni for appointing what they described as a “hard-working field mobilizer” to their district.

Community leaders, visibly excited by the long-overdue attention, used the forum to voice a litany of challenges hampering service delivery in this hard-to-reach, densely populated region. Home to a diverse mix of tribes including the Teso, Karamojong, Kumam, Labwor, and others, Kobolin Parish faces significant barriers due to its remoteness—over 100 kilometers from the district headquarters. Key issues raised included:

• Absence of Essential Services: No health facilities or government primary schools, leaving residents without basic healthcare or education options.
• Educational Gaps: The two existing community primary schools remain uncoded, lacking a center number for the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB), which prevents students from sitting national exams.
• Administrative Shortfalls: No Parish Chief, no access roads, and a complete lack of National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) services, making official documentation inaccessible.
• Economic and Infrastructure Hurdles: Absence of a cattle market for livestock trading, no mobile network coverage from providers like MTN or Airtel, and no dams for watering animals—critical in a region reliant on pastoralism.
• Agricultural and Water Challenges: No agriculture extension workers to support farming, and only one functional borehole serving the entire population, exacerbating water scarcity.

These problems, compounded by the area’s rugged terrain and multi-ethnic composition, have long stifled development and peaceful coexistence. Yet, the meeting marked a turning point, with residents praising Odongo’s proactive approach.

In his address, RDC Odongo assured the gathered crowd that several issues were already being addressed. “The problem of NIRA is sorted because I came with NIRA officials and machines,” he announced, urging local council (LC) leaders to mobilize the community for registration. He committed to ensuring everyone in the parish gets registered, with the team staying on-site until the task is complete. On education, Odongo promised that the community schools would be coded promptly. He also vowed to brief higher authorities in Kampala about the urgent need for a health center, improved access roads, and other infrastructure.

Odongo commended the residents for their peaceful coexistence amid tribal diversity, emphasizing unity as a foundation for progress. In response, the community pledged unwavering support for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party and President Museveni, vowing to vote in large numbers in upcoming elections.

Looking ahead, the RDC announced plans to return in November, this time with district heads of departments, to tackle the remaining challenges head-on. “We will fix these problems together,” he assured, leaving the villagers with a sense of hope after years of neglect.

This event underscores the ongoing efforts to bridge service gaps in Uganda’s remote regions, where dedicated leadership like Odongo’s could pave the way for sustainable development. As Kobolin Parish awaits tangible changes, the visit serves as a reminder of the power of direct community engagement in fostering national unity and progress.

Written by

Andrew Ogwang

Andrew Ogwang is a dedicated Ugandan journalist based in the Northern Region, with a focus on economic reporting, current affairs, and social issues affecting the country. Ogwang has contributed to several local media outlets, including print and digital platforms like The Northern Press, where he has covered topics ranging from policy developments and community stories to investigative pieces on development challenges in Uganda.