By James Alomu

A new wave of female leadership has taken centre stage in Soroti City Council after women secured several of the council’s top positions during the continuation of the inaugural council sitting held on Thursday.

The developments marked a significant shift in the city’s political leadership, with women taking up the offices of Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Deputy Mayor and key executive secretary positions as leaders pledged to prioritise unity, accountability and development.

The sitting was presided over by newly elected Speaker Hon. Nagawa Faith, who had adjourned Monday’s first sitting shortly after councillors were sworn in on May 18. Proceedings resumed at around 9:30am with all councillors present.

During the session, councillors elected Ms Ayoo Patricia Elubu, the Female Youth Councillor, as Deputy Speaker for the 2026/2027 council term. She defeated Mr Emolot Mustafa, the councillor representing the elderly, by eight votes to seven in a closely contested ballot conducted under Section 11(12) of the Local Government Act, Cap 138.

Following her election, Ms Ayoo was sworn into office by Soroti City Town Clerk Mr Joseph Mwesigwa.

Council later approved the appointment of Hon. Amongin Hellen Christine, Woman Representative for Soroti City East A, as Deputy Mayor and Leader of Government Business after her nomination by City Mayor Hon. Francis Esudu Obonyo in accordance with Section 18(1) of the Local Government Act.

Mayor Obonyo also presented a list of executive appointments to council for approval. The executive team included Hon. Murshid Najji as Secretary for Finance and Economic Planning, Hon. Aiba Loyce as Secretary for Works, Production and Technical Services and Hon. Akiror Hellen Mary as Secretary for Social and Community-Based Services.

The appointments further cemented women’s dominance in the city’s top leadership structures.
Speaking during the sitting, Deputy Town Clerk Mr Joseph Mwesigwa congratulated the newly elected leaders and pledged support from the technical staff.

“I want to congratulate each one of you for the positions that you have been bestowed upon. I want to take this opportunity to express our readiness as technical staff to work with you in the different capacities,” he said.

Mr Mwesigwa urged councillors to work closely with technical officers in tackling the city’s major challenges, including poor roads, inadequate waste management systems, limited office space and weak public infrastructure.

“We have infrastructural challenges. As you know, Soroti City is a new city and you are the second council since the inception of the city,” he said.
He also raised concern over the severe shortage of office space within the city administration, noting that some staff members are forced to share small offices, affecting service delivery and records management.
Mayor Francis Esudu Obonyo called for cooperation among councillors regardless of political affiliation, saying development should remain the council’s central focus.
“Today marks the first step of our journey over five years. The people of Soroti City and Teso gave us the mandate to lead them, plan for them and represent them,” he said.
“We have our own party and that is development. The issue of NRM, FDC and Independent has ended today,” the mayor added.
Mr Obonyo further cautioned councillors against interfering with technical officers and urged them to follow the administrative structures established under the Local Government Act.
Deputy Mayor Amongin Hellen Christine thanked the mayor and councillors for the trust placed in her and pledged to work with all leaders to promote peace, unity and development.
“With all my knowledge of this city and the council, we shall work together as one with unity, peace and development,” she said.

She also encouraged women leaders to remain disciplined and respectful while pursuing leadership responsibilities.

“As women, we should not compete with disrespect or disorder, we must remain humble because a divided family will never grow,” she said.

Meanwhile, Secretary for Social and Community-Based Services Hon. Akiror Hellen Mary pledged to focus on improving education and healthcare services while fighting early marriages and school dropout rates in the city.

She also committed to working with Kumam and Iteso cultural institutions to address emerging tribal tensions and promote peaceful coexistence among residents.

The newly constituted council now faces the challenge of addressing longstanding urban issues, including poor road networks, inadequate office infrastructure, waste management problems and urban disorder, while delivering on promises of inclusive leadership and transformation for Soroti City residents.