Lango Seeks Japanese Investment in Agriculture, Industry and Social Services

Leaders in Lango Sub-region have asked the Japanese government to increase investment in agriculture, education, healthcare and infrastructure, citing climate-related crop losses, inadequate public facilities and high youth unemployment.

The appeal was made during an engagement with officials from the Embassy of Japan in Lira City as part of a Japan Official Development Assistance (ODA) press tour to assess development interventions and hear communities’ priorities.

The leaders said Lango, which is still addressing development challenges stemming from years of insurgency and displacement, needs sustained investment and technical support to improve household incomes and access to essential services.

They identified agricultural mechanisation, irrigation, school infrastructure, health facilities and industrial development as priority areas where Japanese assistance could make a difference.

Fred Jalameso, the Ajuri County MP in Alebtong District, said declining agricultural production was threatening household incomes, food security and the supply of raw materials to agro-processing industries in Lira City.

He told the visiting delegation that farmers had recorded poor harvests in the two growing seasons this year, partly attributing the decline to changing weather patterns.

“This year alone, in two seasons, we have registered a harvest of less than 20 per cent,” Jalameso said, warning that reduced output could leave industries struggling to obtain sufficient raw materials.

Agriculture remains central to livelihoods in the region, where many households depend on crop production and livestock for food and income. Lira City’s agro-processing businesses also rely on produce from surrounding farming communities, linking agricultural productivity to the wider regional economy.

Jalameso asked Japan to support affordable farm mechanisation, irrigation infrastructure and water management to help farmers cope with changing weather conditions.

He said most farmers still rely on hand tools, while hiring a tractor costs between Shs120,000 and Shs150,000 per acre, making mechanised farming unaffordable for many households facing competing demands for school fees and food.

“Instead of hiring a tractor to go and support in mechanising farming, that little income is being competed for school fees, food,” he said.

The MP also called for the rehabilitation of old, silted dams and the construction of new ones to provide water for irrigation and livestock.

He said support for high-value crops, including rice, alongside improved market access, would help farmers move towards commercial production rather than selling only the surplus left after meeting household needs.

Jalameso argued that affordable equipment, reliable water sources and stronger markets would help the region realise its agricultural potential, improve food security and provide industries with a more dependable supply of raw materials.

Leo Elem, the Moroto County MP, asked Japan to expand support for school infrastructure, saying overcrowded classrooms and inadequate facilities were undermining efforts to improve education.

He said Uganda’s competence-based curriculum, which emphasises practical and transferable skills, required adequate infrastructure to support effective teaching and learning.

“If we are to create something new, then we need to develop well. At grassroots level, we have our learners who are struggling because of classroom space,” Elem said.

He cited Amorigoga Primary School in Kwania District as an example of how development assistance could improve learning conditions and called for similar interventions in other schools across the region.

Elem also raised concerns about limited access to healthcare, saying communities in several districts rely on Lira Regional Referral Hospital for complicated medical cases.

He said shortages of lower-level hospitals in parts of the region force patients to travel long distances for treatment, adding to the pressure on the referral facility.

The MP welcomed Japanese support to health facilities, including the provision of ambulances and improvements to operating theatres, saying such interventions had helped ease the burden on communities.

Patrick Ogwang Obura, the Oyam South MP and chairperson of the Lango Parliamentary Group, said the region needed greater investment in education and technical skills development to help young people secure employment.

He said years of insecurity and displacement had disrupted development, leaving gaps in education, agriculture, healthcare and industrialisation.

Ogwang said many schools face high enrolment without adequate classroom space and lack well-equipped laboratories. He asked Japan to consider expanding scholarship opportunities for disadvantaged learners and supporting the construction of technical and vocational training institutions.

He said technical education could equip young people with practical skills for employment, including those unable to afford conventional higher education.

Lira City leaders also asked Japan to support urban planning and industrial development as population growth increases demand for jobs and public services.

Mayor Sam Atul proposed partnerships between Lira and Japanese cities to facilitate technical knowledge exchange and improve urban management.

He said Lira needed support to develop a detailed physical development plan, improve drainage and expand paved roads to accommodate urban growth.

Atul also raised the proposed Aler Industrial Park, saying its development could create jobs for young people and stimulate economic activity in the region.

He said a proposal had previously been submitted to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) seeking support for the industrial park, but did not provide details of its current status.

“If we can achieve this, it will answer the challenge of youth unemployment,” Atul said.

He added that partnerships with Japanese cities could help local authorities draw on Japan’s experience in urban planning and infrastructure development.

Denis Alyela Omodi, the Lira City East Division MP, called for more support for classroom construction, school sanitation, furniture and youth empowerment programmes.

He cited Japanese support to Amorigoga Primary School and cooperation with the Itek Okile Rice Growers Multipurpose Cooperative Society in Lira District as examples of interventions that could be extended to other communities.

The cooperative, which has approximately 1,500 members, has benefited from agricultural knowledge exchange involving a Japanese volunteer, according to Omodi.

He said strengthening farmers’ cooperatives, improving production methods, promoting value addition and connecting farmers to reliable markets would help increase household incomes and improve food security.

Omodi also called for stronger parliamentary cooperation between Uganda and Japan to complement existing development programmes.

Responding to the concerns, Masanobu Yonemitsu, head of economic cooperation at the Embassy of Japan, said the visit had given the delegation an opportunity to learn directly from regional leaders and communities about their development challenges.

He said he would take the proposals raised during the engagement back to Kampala for consideration, but announced no new projects or funding commitments.

“I feel like I have so much homework to bring it back to Kampala. Nothing can be built or can be solved overnight. But if you work together, one day we can see solution,” Yonemitsu said.

He said direct engagement with communities was important in informing development policies and ensuring interventions addressed needs on the ground.

The meeting comes as Lango leaders seek greater investment to improve agricultural productivity, address infrastructure gaps and expand employment opportunities.

Whether the proposals translate into new Japanese-funded projects will depend on subsequent assessments and funding decisions.