By Nathan Eyagu 

Ngora District — In the heart of Teso sub-region, Ngora County is experiencing a silent but steady transformation, thanks to the persistent efforts of its Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Juliet Achayo Lodou. With an unwavering commitment to community upliftment, Achayo’s hands-on approach to development has resonated across the district—from gravel roads winding through villages to newly roofed classrooms and fresh water flowing through once-dry communities.

In an exclusive interview, Hon. Achayo emphasized her mission. 

“Our development efforts have been driven by the real needs of the people. From roads to schools, from water to power, I am committed to ensuring that Ngora County rises out of poverty and becomes a model of transformation. These interventions are not just projects—they are stepping stones for better livelihoods,” she said.

One of the most visible footprints of Achayo’s work is in road maintenance and opening. Recognizing that poor infrastructure was a major bottleneck to rural productivity, she personally donated over 3,000 liters of diesel to support road works in areas underserved by government machinery.

The interventions included road maintenance from Kobuin to Opot (8 km) using 800 liters of diesel, Kobuin to Aciisa (4 km, 500 liters), and the routes from Kobule to Kadok (3.5 km) and Apama Akero to Oteteen (3.5 km) which consumed 200 liters each. Even shorter stretches like the completion of the Kalengo to Tororo road were not left out, with 70 liters allocated.

“These roads were in such a bad state that traders, pregnant women, and schoolchildren were stuck for hours or had to walk long distances,” said Steven Ekuwom, a boda boda rider from Aciisa. “But now, movement is smoother, businesses are picking up, and even emergency responses have improved.”

Achayo’s lobbying power has also seen Ngora benefit from a range of crucial interventions. Her successful appeal to the Ministry of Works and Transport secured culverts for particularly impassable roads, further complementing her diesel contributions.

Beyond infrastructure, she lobbied for environmental conservation through tree-planting initiatives, brought power to underserved communities like Tororo Trading Center, and facilitated the extension of piped water to Kadok and Kaderum.

One of the notable achievements is the repair of five boreholes, supported by the Office of the Prime Minister, and the delivery of 80 long-lasting steel borehole pipes. In addition, she helped rehabilitate five major schools with iron sheets: Ngora High School (150), Kobuin P/S (116), Opot P/S (116), Ngora Boys P/S (100), and Atoot P/S (100).

“For years, our school buildings leaked during the rainy season. Now our children can learn in dignity,” said Sr. Margaret Akiror, Headteacher at Opot Primary School.

Achayo also secured tricycles and wheelchairs from non-governmental organizations, restoring mobility and dignity to persons with disabilities across the county.

“It was so painful watching my brother crawl around for years,” said Sharon Amuge from Agurur. “Now, thanks to the Honorable, he moves around independently. It’s life-changing.”

Furthermore, she lobbied for a school bus for Kobuin Secondary School and delivered computers, enhancing digital literacy for students who had never touched a keyboard before.

Education has been a cornerstone of Achayo’s agenda. She coordinated the distribution of textbooks to all government-aided primary and secondary schools, strengthening learning resources countywide.

She also spearheaded the rehabilitation of Kobuin Primary School, ensuring better learning conditions. The delivery of 15 hospital beds to the district has eased congestion in local health facilities, enabling better patient care.

“I gave birth while lying on the floor last year,” recalled Maria Atim from Tilling. “Today, thanks to our MP, women like me have beds, and the hospital feels more humane.”

In response to seasonal food shortages, Hon. Achayo delivered 6.5 tons of maize to several food-insecure villages including Tilling Gawa, Omoo, Ojogol, Kodike, Kapujan, Pokor, Agurur, Moruirion, Katekwa, Okorom, and Kalengo.

“We didn’t have to sleep hungry this season,” said elderly resident Paul Emuron from Kapujan. “The maize helped keep us going while waiting for the harvest.”

Such targeted food support has alleviated temporary suffering while reinforcing the MP’s dedication to welfare beyond just infrastructure.

Security, too, is part of Achayo’s broader vision for development. Following deadly clashes among fishing communities in Ngora and Pallisa, she coordinated security deployments to restore order and promote coexistence.

“People were scared to go fishing—our only source of income,” said Peter Otim, a fisherman in Moru Irion. “Now, we feel safe again. There’s calm, and we can work in peace.”

The testimonies of community members echo a deep appreciation for the work done. Mary Adongo, a mother of six from Ngora Town Council, remarked, “She is the first leader I’ve seen who comes back not just to campaign, but to check on whether the support she brought is working.”

David Ocen, a youth leader in Ojogol, added, “Because of the roads she helped open, youth are now able to transport their produce to markets. That means income, which means independence.”

Meanwhile, retired teacher and elder John Ekitela noted, “The Honorable is not a politician. She is a true servant leader. Ngora was long forgotten, but her voice in Parliament has made us visible again.”

As 2026 edges closer, political talk is naturally brewing. But for Hon. Achayo, the focus remains on delivery, not distractions.

“These are not just projects to me—they are investments in people’s futures,” she said. “When a girl walks to school without fearing rain, when a farmer gets his goods to market, when an old woman drinks clean water, that’s when I know we are making progress.”

Her approach, she adds, is grounded in accountability and proximity.  

“I am always on the ground. I don’t wait for reports—I listen directly to the people.”

Among the projects still in the pipeline are further power extensions to rural households, more borehole repairs, expansion of piped water to Tilling, and additional support to schools in need of roofing and classroom materials.

Achayo says she’s also working to secure more hospital equipment and expand ICT access to rural schools to prepare Ngora’s youth for the digital age.

“As we build, we must also look to the future,” she said. “And that means equipping our children with tools, not just hopes.”

In a region where political promises have often gone unfulfilled, Hon. Juliet Achayo Lodou’s hands-on approach and steady delivery have turned her into not just a leader but a trusted advocate for the people of Ngora. Whether it’s a borehole in Kadok or a classroom in Atoot, her impact is visible - and more importantly, it is being felt.

As the sun sets over the dusty plains of Ngora, there’s a sense of movement, of hope - and of a county steadily reclaiming its dignity, one project at a time.