Soroti City, Uganda: The Senior Presidential Private Secretary Judith Ewichu Apilo has praised voters in the Teso sub-region for significantly improving President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s election performance across all districts.
Addressing a weekly briefing in Soroti City on Monday, February 09, Ewichu said Teso voters responded positively to mobilisation efforts and leadership guidance, resulting in strong percentage gains for the President.
Using a teacher’s grading analogy, Ewichu said Bukedea and Katakwi districts scored “distinction one” after registering over 90 percent support for Museveni. Districts that posted between 80 and 90 percent were graded “distinction two,” while those above 70 percent earned a “strong credit three.”
“What pleased me is that people in Teso took guidance from their leaders and voted wisely,” Ewichu said. “As a presidential secretary, I returned home to mobilise, and the results we achieved for the President reflect our collective effort as a team.”
She noted that although all districts had pledged to deliver at least 90 percent, the target was slightly affected by what she termed ill-intentioned campaigning by some candidates.
“Instead of presenting manifestos, some candidates came with the slogan of ‘No cow, no vote,’ which affected our targets,” she said.
Ewichu urged residents to continue backing Museveni, whom she described as the only leader with a clear vision to protect national and regional gains, including cattle restocking, the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, UWEP, UPE, USE, and the establishment of industrial hubs.
She also called on Members of Parliament—both incumbents and newly elected—to advocate for relaxed conditions on GROW loans, saying many women needing as little as UGX 500,000 for startup capital are locked out by stringent requirements.
On cattle restocking, Ewichu clarified that President Museveni suspended the programme during the campaign period to avoid perceptions of vote bribery.
Calls for Fulfilment of Commitments
Julius Opolot from Bukedea welcomed Ewichu’s remarks but challenged her to ensure campaign commitments are fulfilled.
“We heard clearly on several radio stations in Teso that UGX 50 billion for restocking was already at the Prime Minister’s Office,” Opolot said. “Now that elections are over, we don’t want excuses about verification delaying the programme.”
Meanwhile, John Julius Okaki, a district councillor for Akisim Sub-county in Pallisa, said the postponement of compensation was necessary because some beneficiaries were not captured.
Okaki urged that restocking for Teso should include Pallisa and Butebo districts—currently under Bukedi sub-region—arguing that they also suffered loss of lives and property.
“When it comes to protecting the gains, we pray President Museveni does not reshuffle committed political appointees from the region like Ewichu and current ministers, but instead strengthens representation by including Pallisa,” Okaki said.
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