By Mike Rwothomio 

The Greater Nebbi Elders Council, comprising 35 members from the districts of Zombo, Nebbi, and Pakwach, celebrated its one-year anniversary on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, with assurances of key developmental ideas and strategies aimed at championing development in the sub-region.

The celebration commenced with the grand opening of the council’s new offices at Sayuni Building in Oryang, Thatha Division, along the Nebbi-Arua road, establishing an official contact point for the organization.

Following the office opening, the Kucwiny theater group from Kucwiny sub-county in Nebbi district entertained attendees with the highly esteemed "Agwara dance" , leading council members from Oryang to the Mayor's Garden in Nebbi Municipality, where a sizable crowd gathered for the event.

Addressing the gathering, council chairperson Canon Vasco Kura stated that the office opening demonstrates the fully registered council is “here to stay with no possibilities of going anywhere.”

The Greater Nebbi Elders Council consists of members from diverse professional backgrounds, noted for their high integrity and extensive connections.

Canon Kura Vasco addresses the gathering at the anniversary

Canon Kura highlighted that in its first year, the council has focused on advocating for “Greater Nebbi development through improved infrastructure, improved education, agriculture, health amongst others.”

He further emphasized that “through this council, we are promoting and championing human rights and land conflicts resolution,” urging the Greater Nebbi community to visit the office anytime so their opinions and endeavors can be heard for future consideration.

The council is a fully registered entity with a comprehensive constitution and has engaged extensively with local government leaders and security officials from Zombo, Nebbi, and Pakwach districts to align its activities with government transformation programs.

For 2026, the council plans to mobilize resources and advocate for peace, unity, love, and peaceful elections.

Emilio Odongo, president of the Forum for Development of Greater Nebbi and a council secretariat representative responsible for support, expressed satisfaction with the council's progress, referencing the adage “a journey of a thousand miles starts with a step.”

He praised attendees and encouraged them to advocate for the council’s initiatives in their communities.

Attendees from Nebbi, Zombo, and Pakwach districts were given opportunities to voice concerns affecting the Greater Nebbi sub-region and suggest how the elders council could advance them through appropriate channels.

The commissioning of the offices at Sayuni biulding along Nebbi-Arua road .

Community Reactions

Berocan Moses, a resident of Nebbi District, praised the elders for the initiative and urged them to leverage the platform to advocate for infrastructure development, upgrading Nebbi hospital to a regional referral hospital, elevating Pakwach Health Centre IV to Hospital status among other priorities.

Ungula Emmanuel Nsubuga, another resident, commended the formation of the registered entity and called for advocacy in “development of industrial park to increase opportunities for our people.”

Meanwhile Wilfred, a teacher in Nebbi Municipality, urged the council to “bring politicians together,” noting that political differences in the sub-region have hindered a unified forum for advancing regional agendas.

Other community members raised issues regarding the degeneration of cultural values, calling on the elders council to integrate moral education through sub-county structures to promote ethical values among the people.

Similar elders' organizations have proven effective in other Ugandan sub-regions, such as the Acholi and Lango forums in northern Uganda and elsewhere.

Many view the establishment of the Greater Nebbi Elders Council as a milestone, addressing a previous lack of an organization to champion people-centered agendas at various levels, including national decision-making forums.

Council chairperson Canon Vasco Kura noted that “even the president of the republic of Uganda like organized people,” outlining the council's vision to benefit current and future generations.

He assured attendees: “we shall go back to our council and look into all the matters you have raised but above all, lets be agents of this council and promote it that such that it becomes part of us all.”

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at zoomer Africa, your number one grassroot information hub