Okidi Patrick  –
Award-Winning Former Ojwina Division Leader, Hon. Emmanuel Ebong Opeto, Vows to Transform Lira City West
LIRA CITY WEST, UGANDA – November 9, 2025 – Hon. Emmanuel Ebong Opeto, a political figure celebrated for steering Ojwina Division to three consecutive terms of award-winning governance, has officially confirmed his mayoral aspirations for the newly created Lira City West Division, promising to bring a proven model of accountability and urban expertise to the local administration.
Opeto, widely recognized across Northern Uganda for his long and successful tenure, is seeking to transition his exemplary leadership from the former Division framework to the Lira City structure.
He left a legacy of national recognition making fellow leaders around Uganda, nicknamed him as “an International Man”
Opeto led Ojwina Division for three consecutive terms, spanning from 2006 to 2021 (2006-2011, 2011-2016, and 2016-2021). During this period, his division achieved the remarkable distinction of winning the prestigious Ministry of Local Government (MOLG) award twice for being the Best Performing Division chairperson in the entire country.
This national accolade was earned based on stringent criteria focusing on good governance, including robust accountability measures, aggressive anti-corruption efforts, proactive development promotion, and the appropriate utilization of government funds, particularly resources earmarked for youth, women, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
“The track record in Ojwina was not accidental,” explained Opeto. “It was based on demanding transparency and ensuring that every shilling spent was visible in community development. That is the experience Lira City West deserves in my next leadership vision 2026-2031.”
Moving on, Hon Emma has a deep Urban Management expertise because
Opeto’s qualifications extend far beyond local administration. For ten years, he served as the Regional Coordinator for Northern Uganda under the Urban Authority Association of Uganda, giving him invaluable insight into regional infrastructure and management challenges.
Furthermore, prior to the official declaration of Lira as a city, Opeto was part of a select delegation of local government officials and political leaders taken outside the country for benchmarking exercises. This exposure included detailed studies of city management and physical planning in major urban centers such as Kigali (Rwanda), Dodoma, Arusha, and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), and Mombasa (Kenya).
This international experience ensures he is “well acquainted with cities issues and the physical planning required for sustainable urban growth,” according to a campaign official.
During his leadership, Opeto was notably known for tackling insecurity, specifically the localized theft known as owukwuk, and consistently positioned himself as a human rights defender, championing the rights of women, youth, and PWDs.
Fighting Poverty and Reforming Taxation are some of his major talents.
As he launches his campaign for Lira City West, Opeto has articulated a platform focused on two core objectives: fighting poverty and fostering socio-economic development by “bringing the City to the community.”
His primary focus for this term will be to ensure that residents genuinely understand and benefit from living within the city boundaries. This includes the creation of new market spaces to empower women traders and defending their economic security.
Opeto was highly critical of the current city authority, accusing them of overtaxing business owners. He pledged to shift away from punitive tax measures toward a collaborative approach.
“I will engage the tax payers through dialogue,” Opeto stated. “And crucially, we will give back to the community by ensuring visible services.”
These promised deliverables include reliable daily garbage collection, functional street lightings across the division, and investment in tarmac roads—the foundational services he believes justifies local taxation.
While concluding his address, to the media on Saturday , Hon. Emmanuel Ebong Opeto rallied his supporters with a clear message of unity and renewal:
“TOGATHER WE CAN MAKE LIRA CITY WEST DIVISION GREAT AGAIN.”
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