OYAM, August 10, 2026 — The Chief Administrative Officer [CAO] of Oyam district, Felix Alex Majembe, has urged agricultural extension workers to increase their presence in communities to ensure farmers have access to the services they need.
Oyam district currently has 10 technical staff at the district level and 48 extension workers serving lower local governments. They include seven agricultural officers, three veterinary officers, three fisheries officers, two animal husbandry officers, 13 assistant agricultural officers, 13 assistant veterinary officers and seven assistant fisheries officers.
Speaking at a farewell party for the retired District Production and Marketing Officer [DPMO], Albino Cox Ogwal, at Oyam Guest House Annex, Majembe urged extension workers to improve service delivery and maintain a strong presence in the field.
He said poor performance at sub-county and town council levels undermines the work of the district, and called on the incoming DPMO to ensure extension workers are physically available to support farmers.
“Dear colleagues, you are our foot soldiers in the field. If service delivery is poor at the sub-county or town council level, then the district has no business. I humbly appeal to you, especially the incoming DPMO, to ensure that extension workers are visible on the ground. If a farmer seeks help, there must be an extension worker physically available to support our people,” Majembe said.
Majembe also reminded staff to manage their time effectively, citing concerns raised by the Minister of Local Government about absenteeism among civil servants.
“If we don’t manage time, we cannot manage ourselves. Colleagues, you have heard the Minister of Local Government, whether rightly or exaggeratedly, pointing out that some of us absent ourselves or, even when we clock in, leave our coats on the chair and walk away. I am reminding you that we must change this approach to civil service,” he said.
The Acting DPMO, Dr Tom Ogwal, commended his predecessor for managing the department well and pledged to prioritise transport for the 10 agricultural extension officers who currently lack mobility.
He also outlined plans to increase staffing to 20 officers each in crops, livestock and fisheries to strengthen service delivery.
“We want to have a fully staffed department in the district. Our goal is to align with the structure so that we have 20 extension officers in crops, 20 in livestock and 20 in fisheries. This will enable us to serve our farmers effectively. That is our wish,” Ogwal said.
Conny Atoo Ogwang, the Finance and Administration chairperson at Oyam District Council, urged extension workers to intensify their efforts to help farmers improve production and harvests.
“Extension workers in other districts are doing real work, but here we need to go to the field and train farmers in the best farming methods,” she said.
Meanwhile, Betty Acomo, Secretary for Production, Works and Technical Services, assured extension workers that district leaders would continue to provide oversight to ensure farming standards improve across Oyam district.
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