Lamwo district authorities have stepped up enforcement of a directive requiring all public servants to reside within the district, arguing that daily commuting from neighboring districts has contributed to poor service delivery and weakened accountability.
District chairperson Oyet Sisto Ocen said the grace period granted to district employees to relocate to Lamwo expired on July 1, 2026, but many officers continue to travel daily from neighboring Kitgum district despite repeated reminders.
According to Oyet, the continued practice has resulted in late reporting to work, early departures from duty stations, and reduced supervision of government programs, ultimately affecting residents’ access to public services.
“The grace period has ended. Those who have failed to comply will be notified formally, and if they continue to disregard the directive, the district will begin the process of interdiction in accordance with the Public Service Standing Orders,” Oyet said.
He explained that the district leadership had earlier directed officers using government vehicles and motorcycles to keep them within Lamwo to ensure prompt response to official duties and discourage the use of public assets for daily commuting.
However, district officials say monitoring conducted after the deadline showed that only a few government vehicles had remained stationed in Lamwo as required, while others were allegedly still being used to transport staff from neighboring districts.
Oyet noted that the directive is backed by the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders, which require public officers to reside within their designated duty stations unless they have received official permission to live elsewhere.
“District leaders said the directive is grounded in the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders, which require public officers to remain available at their duty stations and notify their supervisors before leaving the town where the duty station is located.
“They argue that this supports the requirement for officers to reside within Lamwo unless officially authorised otherwise.”
He added that the Resident District Commissioner, William Komakech, and the Chief Administrative Officer have repeatedly reminded staff of their obligation to comply with the regulations.
The district also circulated the registration details of government vehicles and motorcycles to facilitate monitoring and enforcement.
The district leadership says it is prepared to seek support from the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Public Service if disciplinary action becomes necessary against officers who continue to ignore the directive.
The renewed enforcement comes as Lamwo works to improve its performance following concerns over service delivery in the previous financial year.
District leaders have linked some of the challenges to absenteeism, delayed reporting to work, and inadequate supervision associated with long-distance commuting.
The directive has generated debate among residents, with some supporting stricter enforcement while others believe the emphasis should be on performance rather than place of residence.
Michael, a resident of Lamwo, said public officers should primarily be assessed on whether they report to work on time and deliver the services expected of them.
“What matters most is whether an employee reports by 8:00 a.m., completes the official working hours, and serves the public effectively. Where someone spends the night should not be the main issue if service delivery is not affected,” he said.
However, others believe that residing within the district enables public servants to respond more quickly to emergencies, supervise government programmes more effectively, and remain accessible to the communities they serve.
Sarah Adongkena, a businesswoman in Padibe town council, welcomed the district’s decision, saying many residents struggle to find officials during official working hours.
“People travel long distances to district offices only to be told the responsible officer has not yet arrived or has already left. If officers stay in Lamwo, it will improve accessibility and public confidence in government services,” she said.
Onekalit Julious, a farmer from Agoro Sub-county, said delayed services often affect rural communities the most. “When agricultural extension officers, health workers or technical staff report late, it is ordinary citizens who lose time and money. We hope this directive will improve efficiency,” he said.
Meanwhile, Milly, a resident of Kitgum Municipality, argued that improving service delivery requires more than enforcing residency rules.
“The district should also prioritise recruiting and confirming staff into substantive positions. Many departments continue to rely on officers serving in acting capacities, which can affect accountability and long-term planning,” she said.
Public administration experts have long argued that officers who live within their duty stations are generally better positioned to respond to emergencies, supervise government programs, and engage regularly with communities.
At the same time, some observers maintain that performance management should focus on measurable service delivery outcomes, attendance, and accountability regardless of where an officer resides, provided public service regulations are respected.
As Lamwo district moves to enforce the residency requirement, the debate reflects a broader challenge facing many local governments across Uganda: ensuring compliance with public service rules while delivering timely, efficient, and accountable services to citizens.
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