By Nathan Eyagu 

Soroti City — National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders David Calvin Echodu and Abdul Latif have positioned the ruling party as the key driver of Soroti City’s economic revival, pledging job creation, infrastructure improvement and inclusive development if voted into office.

Speaking to residents at Swaria Primary School, Echodu, the vice NRM Eastern Region Chairman and Soroti City West parliamentary candidate, said the city’s progress has been slowed by divisions and a lack of coordinated leadership. He urged residents to unite beyond political and tribal lines to accelerate development.

Echodu said Soroti City belongs to all residents and stressed that the time for division was over, calling for collective effort to build the city.

He noted that despite attaining city status, Soroti continues to grapple with unemployment, poor infrastructure and inadequate service delivery. Echodu said the NRM, under President Yoweri Museveni, has the experience and capacity to address these challenges.

He told the gathering that while Soroti is now a city, jobs remain scarce, adding that voting for President Museveni and all NRM flag bearers would bring tangible change. He pledged to clean up the city, improve infrastructure and strengthen service delivery.

Echodu compared Soroti’s development pace with other urban centres, saying the city has lagged behind and needs a unified development agenda to catch up.

He called on voters to support all NRM candidates in the January 15 polls, pledging to work closely with fellow leaders to deliver results.

Meanwhile, Abdul Latif, the NRM candidate for Soroti City East Division Mayor, urged residents to embrace change by voting massively for the ruling party, saying Soroti has remained economically stagnant for more than two decades.

Latif cited cities and municipalities such as Gulu, Mbale, Lira and Moroto, which have benefited from industrial investment and job creation, as examples Soroti should emulate.

He said leaders with strong networks and lobbying capacity are critical to attracting industries to the Soroti Industrial Park, noting that factories would create employment opportunities for the city’s youth.

Latif also highlighted the poor state of infrastructure in Soroti City, saying roads, public facilities and service delivery systems require urgent attention.

According to Latif, these challenges can only be addressed by granting NRM candidates a mandate on polling day.

He urged residents to rally behind the NRM leadership on January 15, saying the vote presents an opportunity to change Soroti’s economic trajectory.

The NRM campaign in Soroti City continues as candidates intensify mobilisation ahead of the forthcoming elections.