Regional Memorandum
Your Excellency,
On behalf of the people of West Nile and the West Nile Development Association (WENDA), we extend our profound appreciation for your government's unwavering commitment and transformative interventions in the region. Over the past years, initiatives such as:
- The launch of the West Nile Regional ICT Innovation Hub at Muni University by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, empowering youth with digital skills and fostering innovation
- The Industrial Hubs in Adjumani and Zombo that are empowering our youth with skills
- The Uganda Country Refugee Response Plan (2022-2025) effectively supporting the hosting of over 80% of the nation's refugees
- Health sector advancements - giving West Nile two regional referral hospitals, including the West Nile Comprehensive HIV Project funded through partnerships with the US CDC
- Training on solar water pumping systems supported by the African Development Bank
- UNICEF's country programme (2021-2025) focusing on education, child protection, and social services
Infrastructure Achievements
On infrastructure, we would like to appreciate connecting West Nile to the National Grid, commissioning Nyagak Three, and launching Etuka Sola grid that is coming up. On roads, we would like to appreciate the Atiak – Adjumani – Laropi and now construction works on Moyo – Yumbe and Koboko road are ongoing. Your Excellency, these are very strategic infrastructural works improving regional connectivity for development.
As we build on these achievements, we humbly present this memorandum drawing from the resolutions of the West Nile Development Association Executive Council Arua City Summit on October 3, 2025. The summit convened stakeholders from 13 higher local governments represented by the members of the WENDA Executive Council and the West Nile parliamentary Caucus Executive to address service delivery challenges, opportunities, and policy recommendations across key sectors.
West Nile Region at a Glance
West Nile, with a population of 3,869,400 (8.43% of Uganda's total) and spanning 15,619.3 km², is rich in natural resources, agriculture, minerals, cultural diversity, and strategic borders with South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). However, persistent issues such as low literacy (59.1%), high subsistence farming (53.5%), food insecurity (69.4%), youth Not in Education Employment nor Training rates (60.6%), and disproportionate budget allocations (7.9% of national local government funds) hinder full potential.
These resolutions, synthesized from six policy briefs, align with NDP IV's goals of sustainable industrialization, inclusive growth, and resilience. We seek your directive for increased funding, policy reforms, and partnerships to implement them. Below is a summary of our prayers to you Your Excellency.
Our Prayers
West Nile be granted a Regional Status with its benefits on account of the demography, Geography, Culture, History and economic context.
An affirmative regional development programme with financing for West Nile through the ministry for Northern Uganda.
Expand PDM envelope; invest in border infrastructure like establishing export hubs and border markets and provide private sector investment incentives to attract investors to West Nile.
Government should appoint cabinet ministers and permanent secretaries, on top of the state ministers, ambassadors, and Commissioners in government ministries departments and agencies.
Government to consider strategic infrastructure like the road from Nebbi – Zombo – Vura that will grant Agricultural producers in that belt access to markets, and upgrading the Arua Airfield to an International Airport and construct the Bridge at Pakwach and Laropi for accessibility.
Your Excellency,
These resolutions offer a roadmap for West Nile's inclusive growth. Building on your government's interventions, we urge directives for enhanced resources and implementation. WENDA is committed to the partnership for progress and protecting the Gains of the NRM Government under your able leadership Mr. President.
Thank you for your visionary leadership.
Respectfully submitted,
Hon. Anyama Williams
The District Chairman Moyo
West Nile Development Association (WENDA) Executive Council Chairman