By Marian Magdalene Bangura
Waterloo will take centre stage in Sierra Leone’s civic engagement drive on Tuesday, 20th October, 2026, as government ministers, development partners and local authorities meet citizens to discuss Redistricting/ Creation of New Localities and the 2026 Population and Housing Census.
The engagement, organised by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MOICE), will be held at the Western Area Rural District Council (WARDC) Hall under the theme “Government at Your Doorstep.”
The Civic Day Series is designed to bring the government closer to the people, this time giving residents of Waterloo and surrounding communities the opportunity to question policymakers, seek clarifications on national policies and contribute to discussions shaping the country’s development.
The forum will address two major national priorities: the rationale and implications of redistricting and the establishment of new localities, as well as preparations for the 2026 Population and Housing Census.
Both issues have significant implications for local governance, public service delivery, development planning, and the allocation of resources. The Waterloo engagement is expected to provide citizens with a platform to better understand the processes and their potential impact on communities.
The high-level panel will include Ambassador Tamba Lamina, Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs; Kenyeh Barlay, Minister of Planning and Economic Development; Andrew Bob Johnny, Statistician General of Statistics Sierra Leone; Kunle Adeniyi, UNFPA Country Representative in Sierra Leone; and Kasho J. Holland-Cole, Chairman of the Western Area Rural District Council, alongside other key stakeholders.
The event is being organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Statistics Sierra Leone, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Residents are encouraged to participate actively by submitting questions and concerns through short code 818 on all mobile networks or via https://bit.ly/4rZNv98. The engagement will also be streamed live on Facebook, extending participation beyond the council hall.
The Waterloo edition forms part of the government’s wider efforts to deepen civic participation, promote transparency, and strengthen inclusive governance under the national mantra, #SaloneBigPasWiAll – We Rise to Lift Salone Above All Else.
The Civic Day Series will continue the following week, with the next edition scheduled for York Village on Tuesday, 27th October 2026.