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BY RICHARD DRASIMAKU
ARUA: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2025
Adisa Tiko, a resident of Oli D cell is perturbed by the filth in Arua Central Division that once was rated the second best small city in Africa.
The poor state of hygiene in Arua City was one of Tiko’s two main concerns as she walked to listen to the area Member of Parliament, Jackson Atima, who was campaigning for a second term in her cell.
“The division officials come to collect money from us claiming it is for removing garbage but we see garbage rotting everywhere. Our surrounding is dirty and smelling bad,” she said in an interview.
In the rally, Tiko attentively followed to hear what the MP would say about the deplorable state of hygiene in the City.
Indeed cleaning the City was a key point emphasized by Atima who said he was ashamed by the outgoing Mayor of Arua Central Division who enjoys dirty environment.
“I had promised to you that I would make sure we have clean city but this is one area where I have been ashamed. This is why I am asking you to vote for me a good Mayor who can work with me to clean this city,” Atima said.
“The parliament has done its part of appropriating budget for garbage management and for hygiene, the Ministry of Finance has done its part of sending this money to Arua City and to the Central Division. Why has the town remained dirty when money was sent to clean it?” Atima queried.
He promised that there will be an investigation by forensic auditors of every penny that the government has sent to Arua Central Division to ascertain value for tax payers’ money.
Atima emphasized the government’s commitment to improve household incomes and urged the civil servants to ensure proper implementation of the Parish Development model (PDM) funds.
PDM too was another concern of Tiko who like her neighbor Zaitun Onzia have spent three years following the program but have not received funding.
The duo expressed frustration with the implementers whom they allege are using discrimination and favoritism of relatives to rule out other qualified people from benefiting.
Atima said implementation of PDM will be streamlined and the City roads upgraded and rehabilitated timely once a trusted Mayor takes the helm at Arua Central Division.
He urged the business community to take full advantage of the electricity to scale up their operations.
He thanked the former MP of Ayivu County Bernard Atiku whom he said organized the business community to push for connection of West Nile to the National grid when he was still the chairman of the chamber of commerce.
“Together with Hon Atiku, we signed for the USD4100m loan that the government secured to electrify West Nile. Now what is remaining is distribution of this power. I appeal to you the business people to maximally use this power that we have been crying for all these years,” Atima said.
Atima explained that when he went to the parliament, he picked from where Atiku had left and he followed the issue of connecting the region to the national grid which has been achieved.
He asked the people to renew his term so that he can address the pledges to the youths including skilling for job creation.
