Pallisa, (UG):- Locals in Pallisa have expressed bitterness about the discriminative selection of farmers to be visited by President Museveni on his forthcoming North Bukedi tour scheduled to start on 8th to 10th November 2024.
John Julius Okaki the Akisim sub-county district councillor expressed disappointment saying there are potential farmers who HE president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni shouldn’t miss to visit but have been left out in Pallisa district including those who have multiplied one million seed capital under the parish development modal.
Okaki said having a minister is a great bargaining force and a direct benefit of the national cake but if you don’t have anybody in the kitchen you will always eat leftovers and even miss food.
“At cabinet level when critical issues are discussed regarding districts Palilsa that gave birth to Budaka, Kiibuku and Butebo gets mere sympathy which needs to be addressed”, he said, adding that dairy farmers like James Olupot of Olok sub-county are well known for livestock management and supply Pallisa town with over 2000 litres of milk daily, has also been left out.
“John Opolot Okou from Opwateta sub-county with 49 acreage bamboo forest and silkworm farmer and Shariff Oduman from Oboliso sub-county with has over 200 turkeys worth 12,000,000 which he started rearing after getting one million from PDM have also been left out,” he adds.
Olupot who has been anxious to host President Museveni on his farm said he has been very unfortunate every time the president who is also a livestock farmer comes he is left out.
“I am completely disappointed because I would have interacted with him and got good guidance from a national lead livestock farmer”, Olupot said.
However, the submission of Felix Esupan ward councillor of Kalaki in Pallisa tien council that the changing of MPs affected was shut down by Denis Arikod referring to Dr Monica Musenero who is in cabinet though she is not a member of parliament.
“Previously, they blamed us for not voting NRM but in the last two electrons we scored over 70,% but still unrecognized, we even have MPs who went to parliament twice actually Oseku of Kibale county is on third term”, Arikod said.
Hausi Byatantalo Njaye an NRM seasoned mobilizer during the Gogonyo county by-elections campaign in February 2023 said that President Museveni who had come to campaign for Derrick Orone himself knows the issues of Pallisa ranging from marginalization and tribal differences promised to make the Bakenyi happy by appointing Issa Taligola for having accepted to step down.
“The cabinet reshuffle was made and no slot was given to Taligola who is a complete ministerial material but the opportunity skipped Pallisa “, Njaye said.
Nonetheless, Franco Auki of Akisim sub-county said what they dearly need is peace, good service delivery and equitable distribution of resources.
“My worry is President Museveni may not be aware that Pallisa needs over 700 teachers 120 nurses and midwives which are key drivers of social services delivery. It would be better for the government to open up the ceiling because the salary earned of 700 in a month cannot be compared to what a single minister gets and these 700 take care of over 2,000 dependants as compared to a minister who will mind of his family immediate relatives and in-laws,” Auki remarked.
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