Terego's Bileafe Citizens Demand Action as Leaders Pledge Solutions

In a powerful display of grassroots democracy, Integrated Child Service Consult (ICS) and partners facilitated a high-stakes Community Baraza at Bileafe Sub County Headquarters on June 19, 2025, where citizens confronted local leaders on pressing service delivery failures.

The forum, part of the SEAT Project funded by the Royal Danish Embassy, exposed systemic gaps in healthcare, water access, education, and corruption in government programs—sparking direct commitments from duty bearers.

This high-impact dialogue between citizens and duty bearers brought long-neglected service delivery issues to the forefront—exposing deep-rooted gaps in healthcare, water access, roads, education, inclusion, and corruption in public programmes.

But unlike past forums, this Baraza ended with firm commitments, timelines, and a renewed sense of urgency from leaders.

^{Bileafe Sub-County Baraza in session at SC HQ, Terego District}

Key Community Concerns

Mismanagement of PDM Funds Sparks Outrage;

Residents of Bileafe raised serious concerns about corruption and irregularities in the implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM). Many genuine beneficiaries, especially youth and farmers, reported being excluded due to lack of transparency. A youth leader questioned why only the well-connected were accessing funds.

In response, Mrs. Suzan, the District Women Councilor, condemned the misconduct as “null and void” and promised to push for investigations into reports that individuals from Arua City had fraudulently benefited from funds meant for Terego.

^{Hon. Suzan, Women Councilor, Terego District Local Government Speaking}

Health Crisis Due to Lack of HCIII;

The community decried the absence of a functional Health Center III in Bileafe, which forces residents to walk over 15 kilometers to Rikki HCIII—a facility that is overcrowded and lacks adequate drugs.

A concerned woman shared a heartbreaking testimony about mothers and children dying due to ambulance delays and drug shortages.

^{A concerned woman raising an issue at the Baraza}

The subcounty chair, Mr. Toko Solomon, in full support of the district leaders present, responded by committing to fast-track the construction of a new Health Center III in the next fiscal year.

Clean Water Still Out of Reach;

Despite recent efforts to extend piped water infrastructure, clean water coverage in Bileafe remains below 30%. Villages continue to rely on unsafe water sources, while most pipelines end at trading centers. A community elder lamented that rural areas are consistently left out.

The district leaders present promised to follow up with the water engineer, who had earlier promised to expand the water network and repair broken boreholes by December 2025 to improve access to safe water.

Poor Road Conditions Isolate Communities;

The dilapidated state of roads, particularly during the rainy season, has made it difficult for residents to access markets, schools, and health services. A farmer pointed out that the roads become rivers, making trade nearly impossible.

The District Chair, Hon. Saka, responded with a directive for the emergency grading of key roads and committed to lobbying for their long-term upgrade through tarmacking.

^{A member raising an issue on bad state of roads in the sub county}

Education Crisis: Severe Teacher Imbalances;

A glaring disparity in teacher deployment was highlighted, with Ariaze Primary School—housing over 2,000 pupils—operating with only seven government teachers. Meanwhile, another school reportedly received an unnecessary deployment of 38 teachers.

A concerned parent questioned this misallocation, stating that children are forced to study under trees. LCIII Chairperson Hon. Toko Solomon promised to work with district education officials to correct the imbalance and ensure fair distribution of teaching staff.

Exclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)

Persons with disabilities expressed frustration at being excluded from key government support programmes, including housing grants and livelihoods initiatives. Allegations emerged that some officials signed for PWD funds without disbursing them. A visually impaired resident questioned the integrity of the system. The Community Development Officer (CDO) admitted the lapse and committed to conducting a full audit of PWD funds.

Labour Exploitation at Turkish-Owned Okra Plant

Youth employed at the foreign-run Okra processing plant reported exploitative working conditions, including wages as low as UGX 3,000 per day and lack of protective gear. One worker described exposure to harmful chemicals and neglect by labour officials.

^{A youth of the SC raises an issue of concern—the Turkish investor environment and labor concerns.}

Mr. Obiale Richard, the Principal CDO of Terego, confirmed the validity of the complaints after inspecting the plant and promised immediate action to address both labour and environmental violations.

Leaders’ Responses and Bold Commitments

Hon. Toko Solomon, the LCIII Chairperson of Bileafe, pledged to correct the teacher deployment errors that have left some schools under-resourced, ensuring a more balanced distribution of educators.

^{Hon. Toko Solomon - LC II Chair, Bileafe SC, Responding}

He also committed to collaborating with environmental and labour authorities to address reported abuses at the Turkish-owned okra processing plant.

Mr. Saka Wilfred, Terego District Chairperson, announced that the upcoming district budget would include DRDIP and URRI funding to tackle the critical service gaps raised at the Baraza.

^{District Chairman - Hon. Saka Wilfred responding with passion to the community concerns}

He acknowledged that disunity among district leaders has slowed progress and vowed to foster greater collaboration for the benefit of the community.

Mr. Aniku Godfrey, the Parish Chief of Bileafe, addressed the long-standing issue of the unfenced Bileafe Market, assuring residents that fencing and safety upgrades had been prioritized in the next financial year’s budget to better protect women vendors and boost local commerce.

^{Mr. Aniku Godfrey, Paris Chief, seated in the middle}

The Bileafe Baraza was not merely a complaint session—it became a catalyst for real change. For the first time in years, citizens saw their concerns met with concrete timelines and visible commitment from leaders.

ICS and its partners have committed to tracking these pledges and will release a follow-up report by September 2025. Meanwhile, radio talk shows will serve as platforms to amplify community voices and maintain pressure on duty bearers to deliver on their promises.

With additional Barazas scheduled in Katrini (June 20) and Aii-vu (June 18), this wave of grassroots empowerment is set to continue across the district, igniting civic participation and transparent governance.

As the Baraza concluded, a renewed sense of hope and determination echoed across Bileafe.

"Today, our voices were heard. Now we wait for action," said one elder, capturing the mood of the day.

The Baraza proved that citizen power and participatory governance can drive meaningful transformation. With sustained vigilance and accountability, the seeds of change sown here may soon bear lasting fruit for the people of Terego.

Bileafe Sub-County Citizens Demand Action as Leaders Pledge Solutions at Community Baraza in Terego