SOROTI, UGANDA — A section of leaders, youth, professionals and political actors from the Teso sub-region have renewed calls for the development of a unified regional agenda, arguing that a common development framework could strengthen Teso’s bargaining power when engaging the central government.
The renewed push is being championed by the Kazi Ni Kazi pressure group, which has outlined a number of priorities for the region as it mobilises support for the 2031 presidential ambitions of General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Supporters of the initiative argue that although people from Teso have occupied several senior positions in government over the years, the region has not fully translated that representation into major investments and economic transformation.
They contend that the absence of a clearly defined regional development agenda has made it difficult for leaders to collectively articulate and pursue Teso’s priorities.
Among the concerns raised are limited industrialisation, inadequate investment and weak economic activity in some urban centres.
Soroti City, which serves as the region’s commercial hub, has been cited as an example, with proponents of the agenda arguing that the city still lacks sufficient manufacturing activity and major private-sector investments capable of creating significant employment opportunities.
The advocates also point to the region’s agricultural potential and availability of land, saying Teso could attract more investors if its leaders and communities presented a coordinated set of priorities to government and the private sector.
They further argue that other regions have secured major infrastructure and development projects partly through sustained advocacy around their regional priorities, raising questions about what Teso needs to do differently to secure similar investments.
Kazi Ni Kazi Mobilises Support
Against this background, Kazi Ni Kazi, led by Mr Dan Mulalu, is seeking to bring together people across Teso around what it describes as an Agenda for Teso.
The pressure group is linking the regional agenda to its mobilisation efforts in support of General Muhoozi Kainerugaba’s presidential project for 2031.
According to the group, the agenda is intended to provide a common platform through which the people of Teso can articulate the development priorities they would expect a future Muhoozi administration to address.
The approach is also expected to give the region a unified voice in discussions on development, employment, industrialisation, infrastructure and other socio-economic priorities.
Leaders Meet in Soroti
On Sunday, a cross-section of youth, elders, lawyers, journalists and politicians from across Teso held a three-hour meeting at Sparrow Hotel in Soroti.
The meeting discussed what participants described as key issues affecting the region and the need for a coordinated approach to addressing them.
Participants also elected an executive structure extending from the regional level to grassroots structures, with the leadership expected to coordinate mobilisation activities across Teso.
The organisers said the structures will mobilise support for General Muhoozi Kainerugaba while simultaneously using the proposed Agenda for Teso to advance the region’s development priorities.
For supporters of the initiative, the central argument is that political mobilisation and regional development advocacy should go hand in hand, allowing Teso to present clearly defined demands while participating in the wider political debate ahead of 2031.
The initiative now faces the task of translating the proposed agenda into specific, measurable priorities that can be presented to government, political leaders, investors and other development partners.
