The National Planning Authority (NPA) has organized a three-day consultation meeting on the National Development Plan IV (NDP IV) in Gulu, but conspicuously, they have chosen not to invite anyone from the Acholi sub-region. This exclusion speaks volumes about the continued marginalization of Acholi, especially regarding its vast mineral resources, including oil and gas.

It’s no wonder the question of Acholi’s rich mineral wealth is consistently sidelined. Despite our efforts, government parastatals struggle to acknowledge the significant oil reserves in Acholi. Over 65% of Uganda’s oil is found in this region, yet the Petroleum Authority (PAU) is pushing a PR narrative that suggests Acholi only has 28%. We have evidence to counter this misleading information, and we are ready to present it.

Meanwhile, the NPA continues with its top-down, one-size-fits-all approach to planning, ignoring the unique needs of a region that endured 27 years of insurgency. This same boardroom mentality has stalled NUSAF4, a critical affirmative and social protection project meant to revitalize war-ravaged Northern Uganda.

It’s both ironic and telling that programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM) are rolled out uniformly across the country, with no consideration for the devastation in Northern Uganda. Take a look at the statistics from NPA—Kakumiro District, where the Prime Minister hails from, with its 268 parishes in Bunyoro, receives more PDM funding than all the districts in Acholi combined. This painful reality is mirrored in places like Katakwi, where the Vice President is from, and Bukedea, the Speaker’s district.

As young people who have witnessed Uganda’s trajectory since birth, we see NPA as a detrimental force to the Acholi sub-region. We can only hope that their anti-people schemes and actions are corrected during stakeholder engagements. We do not wish to be provoked further, but if this continues, the youth of Acholi, whose future has been intentionally undermined by NPA, will make their voices heard—we will bring the fight to NPA’s doorstep.

Finally, we urge NPA to stop using Acholi as a scapegoat to justify their questionable budget allocations. It’s time they developed a sense of national responsibility for a region that has suffered over three decades of war.

Distressed Acholi Youth,
Eng. Olanya Olenge Tonny