Gulu youth lead charge in monitoring service delivery, driving accountability in local governance
The youth's findings were presented to local leadership during interface meetings designed to foster dialogue and enhance accountability.
Gulu: In a remarkable display of initiative and engagement, the youth of Gulu District have stepped up to take an active role in monitoring the effectiveness of service delivery in their communities.
This proactive movement emerged after an enlightening training initiative led by the Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) as part of the “Youth Action for Transparency and Accountability (YATA)” project.
This extensive, two-and-a-half-year program, generously funded by the European Union, aspires to deepen young people’s understanding of governance principles and empower them to advocate for transformative changes in their local communities.
According to Solomon Nokrach, the regional project officer for FOWODE in the Acholi Sub-region, the YATA project is currently operational in three focal sub-counties: Awach, Pukony, and Owalo. All in Gulu, but also in other districts like Amuru and Omoro districts.
Nokrach emphasizes the vital role of the youth, who constitute 78.5 percent of the population in Uganda. “If you look around,” he asserts, “you’ll see that we are predominantly a young population.
Therefore, empowering them, especially during this election period, is crucial. These young individuals are often manipulated by political leaders to incite chaos and rally support, yet they continue to grapple with numerous challenges.
By elevating their awareness of their identity, rights, and responsibilities, we can help them take control of their own futures, potentially even inspiring a new generation of political leaders.
This project is designed to unlock their potential, allowing them to confront issues like alcoholism, school dropouts, poverty, and a lack of exposure to opportunities. Additionally, the youth are particularly vulnerable to health challenges such as HIV/AIDS.
When empowered, these energetic and capable individuals can make informed decisions that profoundly impact their lives. We aim for them to engage meaningfully in the political process and actively participate in decision-making regarding their leaders. This initiative is inclusive, calling for participation from everyone both women and men, as well as individuals with disabilities.
”Our focus is distinctly on uplifting the youth. When organized and united, they possess immense power to drive significant change in their communities. Our commitment is centered around fostering positive transformations, which is why we have dedicated ourselves to working with them, particularly in promoting women’s roles in democracy.”
In a recent effort, a collective of youth evaluated service delivery at various local establishments, including Olel Primary School, Olel Health Center II, Patiko Prison Primary School, Lugore Health Center II, and the surrounding road infrastructure in Pukony, Awach, and Owalo Sub-county.
Richard Pedru Cal, the youth chairperson of the Pukony Youth Farmer Association, participated in this impactful monitoring initiative and shared that they employed reporting tools developed by FOWODE to systematically compile their findings.
“Through FOWDE training, we as the youth learned how to interpret a range of government policies about education and health, enabling us to pinpoint governance shortcomings and instances of corruption in various institutions.” Cal asserted
Franka Akidi, another participant monitoring Olel Primary School, reported that their investigation revealed several obstacles contributing to elevated youth dropout rates. Among these were inadequate sanitary facilities, insufficient desks for learners, and poorly maintained football pitches. Furthermore, they discovered alarming practices regarding waste management, with many health providers failing to appropriately handle medical waste at their respective facilities.
The youth’s findings were presented to local leadership during interface meetings designed to foster dialogue and enhance accountability.
In August 2025, key stakeholders from Gulu District, including those from Pukony, Awach, and Owalo Sub-Counties, convened for an interface meeting held in their respective sub-counties to discuss the report submitted by the youth.
Francis Mayi, a councilor for Pukony Sub-county, underscored the significance of youth involvement in monitoring service delivery as a crucial avenue for enhancing leadership accountability.
Justine Toorach, the Secretary for Health Education and Community-Based Services, acknowledged the accuracy and relevance of the youth’s findings.
He noted that while some issues had been flagged to the district administration, financial constraints often impede the district’s capacity to address all identified problems concurrently.
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