Championing exemplary leadership has earned Apolot recognition

In June 2016, Christine Apolot won the elective office of Local Council LC 5 chairperson of Kumi District, becoming not only the first woman to occupy the seat in Teso sub region, but one of three women nationally to become LC5 chairpersons. She beat four male contenders in the election race.
She replaced Ismael Orot, who had served in the position for some 15 years. With Apolot, what you see is what you get; a direct yet approachable woman, one who has been recognised by non-government organisations (NGOs) and civil society for her exemplary leadership characterised with traits of accountability and integrity.

Proudest moment
She was awarded The National Integrity Award 2018 by Actionaid Uganda.
“I got the award and I am happy about it. It has challenged me. If it is something dubious, against the law of Uganda, I am not the person to go to. What if I am found in acts of corruption? This award is worthier than money. Even if I die, someone will speak about me,” Apolot explains.
She attributes her honesty in delivery of services to the electorate to her teaching profession.
“I like working and impacting positively on the community. Even as LC5 chairperson, I want to do work such that come 2021 with or without money, people will come to me. ActionAid, trained me to be transparent and accountable,” she reveals.

The politician is accountable to the electorate and maintains an open-door policy where the people can access her and talk to her about what is going on in the district. She also keeps them informed about what the district leadership is planning.
Under her leadership, she has speared-headed follow-up on cases that involved corrupt Kumi leaders who misappropriated money, and such money has been refunded to the district coffers.
“We have the public accounts committee which I give updates. I am aware when the public accounts committee of the district makes recommendations, I strictly follow them and make sure they are implemented,” she further explains.

She adds, “One of the things that push me is attending meetings to make sure our district accounts for funds so that we benefit from different programmes. This is a prerequisite for support from government and development partners. Every time my CAO fails to adhere to a deadline, we have a bit of an exchange. I ask him if he has come to cause the downfall of the district. We also task lower administrators on publicity of projects.”
As a leader, Apolot advocates for leaders being openly accountable, for example during barazas (community meetings).
“Originally, leaders used to fear attending barazas and looked at them as avenues where public servants were criticised. When you are not there, the community can say anything about you but when you attend, you are able to clear the air and also explain about issues of concern,” she explains.

Setting the record
Being a woman at the helm of the district leadership is something Apolot is forever grateful to the electorate in Kumi for, trusting her to represent them.
“I am open about my failures. I ask for advice from my electorate. Women are naturally tough people. I remember my opponent moved around telling people that they would be making a mistake to vote me in power. He used the Bible to advance his argument that a woman is less than a man, quoting the scripture that we were created from a rib of a man.”
She further recalls that some muslims supported her opponent arguing that during prayers, women are separated from them. All that did not deter her. She soldiered on, convincing voters to elect her for her ability to lead and deliver services to them.

“Some men said that women ‘are now a problem’. It is not easy to convince a woman to do wrong. In Kumi, issues of bribing to get a job are no more. If we hear of such people, and there is proof, we disqualify them. Some people say that I never support people because I want the commission to give people jobs according to their qualification and abilities,” Apolot further explains.
Apolot holds a first class degree in education from Kumi University, a degree she can bank on for survival in case her political career hits a snag.

“Wherever I worked, I was dedicated, disciplined and committed. Some colleagues wonder what would happen if I am not voted back in office. I tell them that I will gladly go back and teach,” Apolot shares.
She also has a certificate in administrative law from Law Development Centre (LDC) and is currently pursuing a post graduate degree in public administration at Uganda Management Institute (UMI).
The teacher turned politician advises fellow women or aspiring politicians to stand their ground no matter the level of intimidation from those that would like to compromise them. Which she says has worked in her favour.

“There is a section of brothers who do not believe in leadership of a woman. There is a gentleman who would have been voted councillor but says he will never work under a woman,” she attests.
Great expectations
She points out financial challenges and explains that the electorate have higher expectations than are realistic.
“People believe what an LC5 earns is more than that of a Member of Parliament (MP), but that is not true. Our salary was Shs2.8m. It was recently boosted by Shs300,000. When taxed, it comes to Shs1.7m. I have a loan.

Half of the salary goes to offset the loan but my people want me to bury every day. There are days when I have 10 burials to attend. All churches feel LC5 should contribute to the church projects. I have five files from churches. They ask for iron sheets and cement. I get budgets for birthday parties. It is not easy. We should make our people understand our obligation. I have told my people that pressure will not lead me to steal. I share money that I genuinely earn,” Apolot narrates.

Wrong assumptions
She also says that she gets pressure from local contractors who believe, as LCS, she should direct procurement officers to give contractors. “I have no role to play in connection of awarding contractors. I do not interfere with other peoples’ work. My husband is a builder and sometimes he attacks me saying I am the LC5 chairperson but I have never given him a job or contract. I openly tell him that we should share the little that we earn. I tell him that should it happen that one-day people see him manage a contract, I would be finished. He is now patient,” the chairperson recounts.

Aggrey Kibet, Cluster Coordinator Actionaid Uganda
She is one of the few female LC5 chairpersons in the country. She has been part of the Actionaid mentorship programme aimed at boosting leaders. She is receptive and supportive to programmes that affect communities. She has risen through the ranks, fought through barriers to become a leader. She will tell you point blank if something is unacceptable.