Pallisa, Uganda: The Ministry of Teso Affairs has delivered 590 galvanized iron sheets to two Catholic churches and a private beneficiary in Kibale County, while announcing that Pallisa and Butebo districts will now be incorporated into a unified Teso regional budget under a presidential directive.
The iron sheets were handed over during a ceremony held at Kibale Town Council on Thursday. The event was presided over by Kibale County Member of Parliament, Hon. Constantine Okwii, who represented the Minister of State for Teso Affairs, Dr. Clement Kenneth Ongalo Obote.
Hon. Okwii was accompanied by Pallisa District Woman MP, Hon. Catherine Achola, district leaders, religious leaders, and local residents.
According to the allocation communicated by the ministry, St. Aloysius Catholic Church Kibale received 300 iron sheets, St. Boniface Odeperio Catholic Church received 250 iron sheets, while Mr. Michael Outa received 40 iron sheets.
In addition to the roofing materials, Hon. Okwii contributed Shs500,000 to each of the two church committees to support construction works.
“This cash is from me in my capacity as the area Member of Parliament, meant to supplement the materials and ensure timely completion of the church structures,” Hon. Okwii said.
During the ceremony, Hon. Okwii delivered a message from Minister Ongalo, announcing that Pallisa and Butebo districts have officially been brought under the administrative and budgetary framework of the Teso Sub-region.
The minister said the move follows a directive from President Yoweri Museveni aimed at ensuring equitable planning and resource allocation across the region.
“Consequently, there will be a single, consolidated budgetary allocation for Teso, inclusive of Pallisa and Butebo, to ensure equitable planning and resource distribution,” Hon. Okwii said while reading the minister’s message.
The new arrangement means Pallisa and Butebo will now be planned and funded alongside the other Teso districts under one regional budget, replacing the previous separate funding arrangements.
Minister Ongalo also emphasized that the iron sheets were a direct government intervention and should not be attributed to any individual politician.
“The iron sheets are a direct intervention of the Government of Uganda and not the benevolence of any political figure, technocrat or private individual,” the minister said in his message.
He urged communities, religious institutions and local leaders to channel future requests for government assistance through the Ministry of Teso Affairs instead of submitting them directly to the Office of the Prime Minister.
According to the minister, the new approach is intended to streamline service delivery, improve transparency and ensure coordinated planning.
He further appealed for patience from communities seeking government assistance.
“The Government remains fair, just and committed to attending to all legitimate requests, albeit in a phased and orderly manner,” the minister said, citing limited resources against the growing number of applications.
Hon. Catherine Achola welcomed the government’s intervention and urged beneficiaries to put the donated materials to their intended use by completing church structures that serve local communities.
She also encouraged residents to plant trees around churches to help protect the buildings from strong winds and storms.
Achola further assured residents affected by the recent destructive storms that government was working to secure additional support.
“I would like to clarify to the victims whose houses, property and livelihoods were destroyed by the recent storms to remain patient as I continue engaging government to ensure they receive assistance,” she said.
Pallisa District LC5 Chairperson Hon. Okiria Ben thanked the Ministry of Teso Affairs for supporting religious institutions, noting that many churches had submitted requests for assistance over the years.
“A good government like the NRM supports religious institutions, as reflected in our national motto, ‘For God and My Country’,” Okiria said.
Residents also welcomed the inclusion of Pallisa and Butebo into the Teso regional administrative framework.
Mr. John Opedun, a resident of Otelepai Cell in Kibale Town Council, said the new arrangement would improve access to government programmes, including livestock restocking initiatives.
However, Ms. Angela Berita Asige, a widow from Eriamacin Cell whose home was destroyed by recent storms, appealed to government to expedite assistance for affected households.
She urged leaders to use the Ministry of Teso Affairs to advocate for families still waiting for disaster relief, saying more than 400 households remained in need of support.
Representing the Chief Administrative Officer, Principal Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Mr. John Okia informed participants that the newly appointed CAO, Mr. Emmanuel Ofwono, was unable to attend because he was finalising his handover following his recent transfer from Namutumba District to Pallisa.
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