UGANDA: GULU CITY BUSINESSES FACE ESTAMTED UGX 10 BILLION LOSS AS POLTICAL TENSONS OVERSHADOW PEACE EFFORTS

Boda Boda failed to take their children to school; in the last Oktoberfest, each
day we were getting UGX 500,000; look here, we are yawning without customers.
By 10:00 AM local East African time. At least I would have UGX 50,000 at hand.
Others blame longed dry spelled that causes economic hardship, by now during
Uhuru Independent celebration festivities, farmers should have marketed their
products of Soyabean, Maize, and groundnut. Chicken and goat, including pig
were sold during independent day
GULU CITY-MONDAY OCTOBER 12, 2026.
By Okumu Livingstone Langol, (Uganda Correspondent)
Onen Denies 42 years old, a boda boda in Gulu City castigated Gulu City Mayor
Julius Achire Labeja Gunya for undermining the Emeritus Mayor Alfred
Okwonga, the initiated of Oktoberfest 2025, which became a goal mine for Acholi
Sub Region.
“We the Boda Boda, in each day for 11 days we have been operating during the
Oktoberfest, we earned millions of moneys, because of petty politics, we have lost
Oktoberfest 2026.”
Onen Dennis insisted, this third term I have failed to take back my children to
school, where can I get the money. This year 2026, is the worst period, we have
lost money in millions. During the time people used to sell chicken, goats, cheep,
pig, Soyabean, beans and Maize gives money to cater for our economic needs.
The Oktoberfest promoted Acholi cultural norms, when over 26 different Acholi
Traditions dances were performed, that also drew all the cultural kingdom of
Buganda, Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, Tooro Luo Babiito Kingdom, Busoga, and
Ankole Kingdom when they came and participated in the Oktoberfest 2025.
Total Uganda had already booked Oktoberfest show
The Total has brought different assortment of Machines, that includes mowing
machine, Cordless machine, water pump machine and stop-tools machines booked
for Oktoberfest.

Instead of Oktoberfest, Gulu City Mayor, Julius Achire organized Motor Rally
events that took place at Kaunda Ground, but the motor Rally attracted few armfuls
participation in Gulu City not in Acholi Sub Region.
Alanyo Pamela, vegetable dealer in Gulu City Main Market, narrated that in the
last Oktoberfest 2025, she sold Green Vegetable which earned UGX 10 M, she
blamed those who have stopped Oktoberfest.
“We don’t have money, and our business has gone down, wan ma wa cato pot dek
cente peke. We the seller of green vegetable we are wallowing in poverty
Ducman Okwera the owner Afro Telecom Dealer, Oyrem John Bosco a Shoes
repair including Internet hardware in Gulu City, they are all experiencing
economic impact of Oktoberfest 2026 band by Gulu City Mayor.
Bomah Hotel Limited last year during Oktoberfest 2025, had provided VIP
hospitality that they gave food and beverages to customers. And according the
management of Oktoberfest the International Tourists who had booked Bomah
Hotel earned UGX 4 BILLION had received 150, German dignitaries who blessed
the Oktoberfest.
Reason for blocking Oktoberfest by Gulu City Mayor

The Gulu City Mayor, Julius Labeja, and the Gulu City Council withheld clearance for the 2026
Oktoberfest at Kaunda Parade Grounds (often referred to as Kaunda/Kunda Ground) due to
unresolved regulatory requirements, safety concerns, and questions regarding event ownership.
The primary reasons outlined by the mayor and city authorities for blocking the venue include:
Lack of Mandatory Security Clearance: Organizers failed to provide proof of security clearance
from the Inspector General of Police (IGP). Because the festival attracts international tourists and
large crowds, the city council mandated that formal security approvals from relevant government
security agencies must be secured first.
Ownership and Identity Disputes: The mayor raised concerns about the legal framework and
ownership of the event. A letter submitted by the organizers labeled the festival as a Rotary
Club of Gulu City activity," which conflicted with how the city-branded event was originally
established. The mayor insisted on clarifying who has the legal authority to organize, run, and
ultimately benefit from an event that utilizes the city's public identity and public spaces.
Unresolved Compliance & Sanitation Plans: The city required the organizers to undergo a formal
appraisal meeting with the Technical Planning and Executive Committees. This meeting was
meant to review mandatory health, sanitation, traffic management, and revenue collection
frameworks, which the organizers had not fully addressed.

Logistical Risks and Venue Conflicts: Concerns were also amplified after the event& s original
founder and former Gulu City Mayor, Alfred Okwonga, issued his own advisory calling for a
halt to the festival, citing venue double-booking, financial deficits from sponsors, and potential
operational failures that could financially damage local vendors.
Mayor Labeja clarified that the city council did not oppose the festival itself but refused to
simply; rubber-stamp; the request without establishing strict institutional accountability, safety
guarantees, and clear transparency
Emeritus Gulu City Mayor Key Details of the Statement and Controversy
Former Gulu City Mayor and event founder Alfred Okwonga advised halting preparations for the
second edition of the Gulu City Oktoberfest in September 2026, citing missing police and
municipal clearances, sponsor deficits, and scheduling clashes.
The Call for Cancellation: In a statement issued in early September 2026, Okwonga urged the
organizers (including the Rotary Club of Gulu City) to stop preparations immediately. He
pointed to unresolved compliance requirements, the risk of operational failure, and the need to
refund registered vendors.
Missing Clearances: Okwonga and the Gulu City Council (led by Town Clerk Innocent
Ahimbisibwe) noted that organizers failed to provide mandatory security clearance from the
Inspector General of Police (IGP) and proper local authority approvals for the festival at Kaunda
Parade Grounds.
Venue and Schedule Conflicts: The festival faced overlapping schedules with other major events,
including a planned performance by Congolese musician Koffi Olomide at the same venue
around the same period.
Divergent Official Views: While Okwonga and city authorities raised red flags over logistics and
funding, government figures such as Minister for Justice and Constitutional