Gulu City | District chairpersons from across the Acholi sub-region have resolved to strengthen regional cooperation in response to growing food insecurity, environmental degradation and concerns over the management of natural resources.
Meeting under the Acholi Local Government Leaders Forum (ALGLF) in Gulu City, the leaders said the challenges facing the sub-region have become too complex for individual districts to address independently, calling instead for a coordinated approach that brings together local governments, central government and development partners.
The forum, chaired by Pader district LC5 chairperson Alfred Akena, warned that prolonged dry spells disrupted the first planting season, leaving thousands of households with little or no harvest and increasing the risk of food shortages across the region.
Speaking during a press briefing, Akena said leaders had united to speak with one voice on matters affecting the welfare of the Acholi people.
“The Acholi Local Government Leaders Forum is committed to working together for the benefit of our people. The challenges we are facing require a united response from all leaders,” Akena said.
According to the forum, crop failure has affected farmers in all Acholi districts, with maize, beans, simsim and other staple crops suffering significant losses due to inadequate rainfall.
The leaders expressed concern that prolonged dry conditions have left many families struggling to secure enough food, particularly those who depend entirely on rain-fed agriculture for their livelihoods.
Lamwo district LC5 chairperson Oyet Sisto Ocen said the effects of climate change are being felt across the region and urged the government to invest more in irrigation, water harvesting and extension services to help farmers adapt.
“Our people are hardworking farmers, but they cannot produce without reliable rainfall. We need practical interventions such as irrigation schemes, valley dams and climate-smart agriculture so that communities can withstand prolonged dry spells,” Ocen said.
He added that regional cooperation would enable districts to advocate more effectively for development programmes that address food security and improve household incomes.
“When Acholi leaders speak with one voice, it becomes easier to engage government and development partners on issues affecting our people. Unity gives strength to our advocacy,” he added.
Agago district LC5 chairperson Wilson Otto said the food situation in some parts of the district had become increasingly worrying following widespread crop failure.
“Many families harvested very little during the first planting season. Unless urgent interventions are made, vulnerable households will continue facing serious food shortages before the next harvest,” Otto said.
He called for emergency food assistance for the most affected communities while encouraging long-term investment in drought-resistant crops and modern farming practices.
“Relief support may help in the short term, but our long-term solution lies in strengthening agricultural production and helping farmers adapt to changing weather patterns,” he noted.
Gulu district LC5 chairperson Justine Obol, who serves as vice chairperson of the Forum, said the leaders had agreed to strengthen collaboration in addressing issues that cut across district boundaries.
“The problems affecting Acholi cannot be solved by one district alone. We have resolved to work together and advocate for solutions that benefit all our people,” Obol said.
The forum also raised concerns about the management of natural resources within the sub-region, particularly oil development activities in Nwoya district.
The leaders argued that local communities should receive a fair share of the benefits arising from natural resource exploitation through improved infrastructure, employment opportunities, environmental safeguards and social investments.
Beyond food insecurity, the district chairpersons expressed concern over continued environmental degradation caused by illegal commercial charcoal production.
Despite a presidential directive banning commercial charcoal trade, the leaders said illegal logging and charcoal burning continue in several districts, threatening forests, biodiversity and future agricultural productivity.
They argued that weak enforcement of environmental laws has allowed the trade to persist, accelerating deforestation and exposing communities to the effects of climate change, including rising temperatures and prolonged droughts.
Atala Agness, a farmer from Omoro district, said poor harvests have left many families worried about the months ahead. “The rains failed us this season. Many people harvested almost nothing, and now families are wondering how they will get enough food until the next planting season,” she said.
In Agago district, Okello Morgan, a community elder, said protecting forests should become a shared responsibility.
“When trees are cut without replacement, we lose rainfall, firewood and fertile land. Leaders and communities must work together to stop illegal charcoal burning,” he said.
Agricultural experts have increasingly called for greater investment in climate-smart farming practices, irrigation, drought-resistant crops and farmer extension services to help communities adapt to changing weather patterns.
Environmental advocates also argue that restoring degraded forests and wetlands is essential for improving rainfall patterns, protecting water sources and sustaining agricultural production.
The district chairpersons urged the central government to provide immediate support to communities affected by crop failure while accelerating long-term investments in agriculture, irrigation, environmental conservation and climate resilience.
They said strengthening regional cooperation would enable districts to share experiences, coordinate advocacy efforts and speak with a stronger collective voice on issues affecting the Acholi sub-region.
For many residents, the forum’s renewed commitment offers hope that leaders can move beyond district boundaries and work together to address the interconnected challenges of food security, environmental protection and sustainable development that will shape the region’s future.
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