Sam Atul has officially started his second term as the Mayor of Lira City. He made a strong promise to focus on bringing people together, improving essential services, and developing infrastructure during his time in office, which will last until 2031.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Lira City Council Hall, overseen by Joe Fay Adoko. Alongside Mayor Atul, sixteen city councillors also took their oaths. The event also saw the re-election of Patrick Okwir as the Speaker of the Council for a second term and Bena Awor as the unopposed Deputy Speaker. Mayor Atul then announced his crucial leadership team. He re-appointed Rebecca Alwedo Ogole as Deputy Mayor, a decision fully supported by the councillors. He also named Judith Ageta as Secretary for Finance, Planning and Economic Development; Geoffrey Bosco Ogwal as Secretary for Works; and Musa Opio as Secretary for Health, Education, and Welfare.
Reflecting on his first term, Mayor Atul highlighted significant progress. He pointed out a remarkable increase in the city’s annual local revenue collection, which grew from 2 billion to 4.7 billion shillings. He also noted the purchase of new road maintenance machinery, the acquisition of two double-cabin pickups, and improvements in city sanitation. Looking ahead, Atul emphasized that his new administration will prioritize getting even more equipment for road maintenance and making sure service delivery is strong across the entire city.
Mayor Atul passionately spoke about his commitment to an inclusive leadership style, one that rises above political differences. He demonstrated this by noting that two of the three secretaries he appointed to his executive team come from a different political party. He stressed that his leadership does not differentiate between people and aims for everyone to work together for the city’s betterment. His message was clear: “My leadership does not segregate. We want to work together for the development of Lira City.”