OTUKE, UGANDA: There was joy and excitement to hundreds of residents of Otuke district as they witnessed the commissioning of Community facilities by President Yoweri Museveni Kaguta on Thursday 18th May 2023.
Museveni, who was accompanied by several leaders, commissioned the Baralegi community facilities in Okwang Sub-county in Otuke District which included; Baralegi Primary School, a Catholic church and the Baralegi Church of Uganda.
“I spent time interacting with the people of Baralegi at a public rally in Okwang Sub-County. I also commissioned two new churches and an Administration block at Baralegi Primary School. I am confident that these facilities will boost development in the area,” tweeted the President on Friday evening.
“The people will get clean piped water by construction of a dam in the nearby river. This will serve the Baralegi community centre, Baralegi Primary School and Okwang Town Council,” he added.
According to Mr Museveni, the real medicine for a good life is homestead income and leaders must know the difference between the two because the school constructed now belongs to the government of Uganda.
‘’In Luo, there is what we call Megwa[ours]but there is also mega which means [mine]’’ Said President Museveni, adding; ‘’Therefore I am happy with the proposal of Bishop Alfred Olwa, and I am going to call a meeting in Entebbe composed of Lango cultural, political and religious leaders very soon to discuss issues concerning the Lango Sub-region at length.”
The President tasked his private secretary, Mr Omona Kenneth Olusegun to organize for the day of the trip of these leaders to meet him in Entebbe.
He however promised to donate four or five tractors to the diocese of Lango as it was an appeal and request to H.E. by Prof. Bishop Alfred Olwa.
Bishop Santus Linos Wanok, the chairperson of Lango religious Forum, talked of reconciliation, control of bush burning and above all the need for the Lango Development Forum to work together for a common goal while addressing the president.
President Museveni also praised the Lango Cultural Foundation for developing strategic economic plans aimed at making the people of the Lango sub-region join the money economy and eradicate poverty in their households.
“I am glad the Foundation wants to do Institutional farming, that is why you are asking for tractors. This is a good idea. It is in the right direction because when a cultural Institution engages in commercial farming it becomes like a school. Ordinary people learn from it, they copy. It is not only getting money for the Cultural Institution but also teaching our people here,” he noted.
He was equally delighted to learn from them that they are ready to grow perennial crops like coffee, cocoa, and avocado but also encouraged them to take an interest in dairy and fish farming that will help people to eradicate poverty.
“The seasonal crops are good but they are a bit erratic, but the perennial crops give you a stable base, you harvest this year, next year even if the price goes down it can’t go down so much that you fail. Some of these areas have enough rain to grow coffee and other crops that need good rainfall. So, I am happy with this awakening of our people,” Museveni said.
On Tochi Irrigation Scheme, President Museveni expressed his gratitude to learn of the plan pointing out that once the scheme is operational it will open up the eyes of the people to realize that crops can be grown all year round as wananchi are used to wet and the dry seasons only.
“You may not be able to do everything but if you do it in one or two places and do it very well then it becomes a wakeup call for others,” he observed.
President Museveni also lauded Lango Cultural Foundation for their plan to open up a ranch and pledged to support them in promoting the enterprise.
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