Koboko's Forgotten Mayor Sanya Wilson Leaves Behind a Transformed Town

Sanya Wilson, aged 48, served as mayor of Koboko from 2016 until January 2026, quietly achieving remarkable transformations in the northern Ugandan town known as Idi Amin’s hometown. Overlooked by mainstream media, his tenure drew international praise from the Cities Alliance in Brussels, where he chairs the East African Counties and Local Governments Association.

When Wilson took office in 2015, Koboko lacked mains water, had limited electricity, impassable streets, understocked clinics, and overcrowded schools. Today, the municipality of about 68,000 residents boasts paved roads, widespread electricity, reliable water connections covering 80 percent of the area, upgraded health centers, new classrooms, and garbage trucks. It has seamlessly integrated over 28,000 refugees from South Sudan and DR Congo—nearly half its population—without major issues.

Wilson’s drive stems from his childhood as a refugee during Idi Amin’s fall in 1979, fleeing to Zaire (now DR Congo) and South Sudan by age six. “I know what it means not to belong,” he shared.

Innovations include solar-powered kiosks for charging and lighting, cutting reliance on wood and charcoal to lower carbon emissions and fire risks. Through the Global Cities Fund, he launched a recycling program turning waste into eco-friendly briquettes, creating jobs for women and youth. Solar streetlights reduced crime and enabled round-the-clock trade, while professional waste management, composting for fertilizer sales, and improved revenue collection—hitting 1,253 percent of targets in some quarters—produced consistent budget surpluses.

Wilson skipped a third mayoral term, lost the NRM primary for Koboko Municipality MP to incumbent Charles Ayume in July 2025, and now eyes a seat at the East African Legislative Assembly. His story prompts questions about why Ugandan voters sometimes favor less competent candidates over proven performers like him.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)