Pallisa, Uganda: Residents of Agule County in Pallisa District have commended their Member of Parliament, Hon. Josephine Ibaseret, for delivering on key manifesto commitments, particularly initiatives aimed at improving access to water and education across the constituency.
Speaking during a community engagement, Bosco Okiria, the coordinator for Opadoi Parish in Akisim Sub-county, said the legislator has remained committed to addressing challenges that were specific to Agule County beyond the National Resistance Movement (NRM) manifesto.
He singled out the procurement of a dedicated water bowser as one of the MP’s most significant achievements.
According to Okiria, the intervention has eased the burden on women during funeral ceremonies, where many were previously forced to leave burial gatherings in search of water, missing important messages delivered by religious leaders and local officials.
“The delivery of the water bowser is one of the key notable achievements in her manifesto,” Okiria said.
Addressing residents, Hon. Ibaseret acknowledged that Agule still faces numerous development challenges but urged constituents to remain united and patient as she continues lobbying government for additional interventions.
“I am aware some people comment that I got lost from them. But lobbying is not done in Agule, it is done in Kampala. It is wrong to assess a Member of Parliament for a county with challenges ranging from political fragmentation, inadequate secondary schools and poor performance in our UPE schools by what happens overnight. All this needs time and resources. But in certainty, the people of Agule should not doubt their trust in me,” Ibaseret said.
She explained that acquiring the water bowser was a direct response to concerns raised by residents.
According to the legislator, many bereaved families could not afford the UGX 200,000 required to fuel the district water tanker, which is also difficult to access because of administrative procedures.
“It is even wrong to use a government water tanker meant for roads. Honestly, we have burials daily across the district. If the district water bowser is to be at every burial, then the purpose it was brought for will be defeated, and it will lead to an inquiry. Remember, this is a term of no more sleep,” she said.
The LCIII Chairperson of Chelekura Sub-county, John Bosco Okolong, welcomed the initiative, saying the water bowser serves the entire community regardless of political affiliation.
District Deputy Speaker and Chairperson of the School Management Committee at Opadoi Primary School, Hon. Charles Obela, appealed to the MP to continue supporting education infrastructure.
He said the school’s fencing project has stalled for nearly six years, with only five percent of the work completed.
“With the heart Hon. Ibaseret has for education, we have asked her to provide basic items that parents are struggling to acquire. We have instructed our Head Teacher, Mr. Semei Edward, to write to our MP requesting support for solar installation so that candidates can have remedial lessons. We have gaps in syllabus coverage and we also need security lighting,” Obela said.
Campaign manager Justine Okiria said Agule has the potential to match neighbouring constituencies if leaders and residents work together.
He noted that the MP is lobbying for the establishment of Universal Secondary Education (USE) seed schools in Akisim, Oboliso, Agule and Chelekura sub-counties, areas that still lack such facilities while neighbouring Gogonyo, which was carved out of Agule, has already achieved full coverage.
Okiria also challenged parents to complement government efforts by providing scholastic materials for their children.
“As the Member of Parliament lobbies, parents should also play their role by providing school requirements. I was pained to learn that some pupils absent themselves from school because their exercise book was taken to the health centre to be used for a family member’s treatment notes,” he said.
He added that Hon. Ibaseret intends to follow up with relevant authorities to establish whether patients are expected to purchase exercise books for medical records or whether government should provide them.
In her closing remarks, Hon. Ibaseret called for unity across political divides, saying development should take precedence over partisan interests.
“Reciting political differences will push Agule nowhere. I am pleased that all my LCIII chairpersons have embraced unity, and I am sure we shall jointly achieve what we told our people and earned their trust with,” she said.
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