Agule, Uganda: Pallisa County MP Hon. Sam Otukol, popularly known as Zigzag, has launched a school feeding initiative in Agule County, Pallisa District, distributing food items to both government and private schools as part of his early interventions ahead of his 2026 parliamentary bid.
Otukol, who has shifted his political focus from Pallisa to Agule County, said he is determined to cause a “fundamental change in leadership and service delivery” in a constituency he says has suffered neglect since its creation in 2011.
“I began by supporting churches because that was the most pressing need among Christians. Now it’s time to bring schools on board,” Otukol said while touring schools in Agule on Tuesday.
He distributed UHT milk, posho, and cassava flour, telling parents that food was one of the most critical factors affecting education performance and retention.
“Our children no longer enjoy studying because schools have become centres of starvation. This is causing a high dropout rate and poor performance in Agule,” he said.
Otukol added that he would have provided food earlier but chose to delay the distribution due to the ongoing NRM primaries, which would have amounted to election malpractice.
“Now that the primaries are done, I can resume my work. Parents should contribute beans to the program—and when the food runs out, they can pick more from my store at Agule Primary School,” he added.
The MP clarified his shift from Pallisa to Agule County, stating that although he previously served Pallisa, he is a born of Agule.
“My father, the late Muzei Okello Zedekiah, was a retired county chief and had a home in Kamuge Town Council. I constructed my home there too. I didn’t leave Pallisa because it was too heavy—my decision was driven by a call from the people of Agule who demanded proper representation.”
Otukol said he declined to participate in the NRM primaries due to “anticipated confusion,” alleging that several NRM executives were also contestants.
Justin Waswa Irigei, his campaign manager, said Otukol’s candidacy had brought hope to a long-neglected constituency.
“Agule was carved out in 2011 but has nothing to show in terms of government development. Even Agule High School existed before that. It’s time for real change,” Waswa said, predicting Otukol will “take oath as the next MP for Agule.”
Local leaders and pupils praised Otukol’s initiative.
Charles Obela, Chairperson of the School Management Committee at Opadoi Primary School, described the intervention as “a golden opportunity” and appealed to Otukol to help fence the school for better security.
Susan Akello, a pupil at Akisim Primary School, said the feeding program had lifted a burden parents had long failed to meet.
Robert Itetio, a Primary Four pupil at Opadoi, urged Otukol to extend the food support to all learners instead of limiting posho to only candidates.
Otukol said he first introduced the school feeding initiative in Pallisa County in 2021, giving food to all candidates sitting PLE. He expanded the program to Agule in 2023, pledging it will become a permanent intervention.
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