BY: JOYCE BABIRYE & DOREEN NASASIRA
The Minister of State for Teso Affairs, Hon. Dr. Clement Kenneth Ongalo-Obote has visited the Districts of Ngora, Soroti and Kapelyebong in the Teso sub-region to assess the challenges being faced in the area.
The Minister commenced the familiarisation tour with meetings he held with the different District leaders in the region to discuss matters related to improving the social and economic welfare of the citizens by the government. He also inspected projects implemented by his office in the area.
During their interaction, the district leaders appreciated the government for its efforts in enhancing connectivity of the road network in the region citing roads like Trinyi – Palisa- Kumi, Soroti – Katakwi- Moroto, Tororo – Mbale- Soroti- Lira roads which have been constructed by the government. However, the leadership of Ngora District expressed concern over the bad condition of some feeder roads like the Kobwin- Kodike road which is in a bad state. They called upon the government to support the district in maintaining some of the roads citing financial constraints on their part.
The leaders also appealed to the Minister to intervene and provide a lasting solution to the flooding of River Mpologoma which has displaced homes and destroyed gardens in many parts of Pallisa, Ngora, Soroti and other areas. They requested that a thorough study be conducted on how to solve the problem and also proposed that drainage channels be constructed to enable uninterrupted flow of the river water.
The minister pledged government’s commitment to strategically implement and manage all the pending programs in the region just like it fulfilled the other fundamental programs in the area such as road infrastructure, health, education and social empowerment. He assured that he would lobby the government to take on the responsibility of regular maintenance and improvement of feeder roads.
Hon. Ongalo-Obote also urged the Teso leaders to harmonize their plans on how best the government can handle the cattle restocking program in the sub-region. He proposed that each household be given a specific number of cows so that there are no more claimants in the future.
The Minister advised the leaders to take advantage of the Teso Affairs Ministry to advance their concerns to the government in a coordinated manner and desist from tendencies of which undermine the hierarchy established by the government.
He inspected several government projects in the region including bridges, Odwarat model farm, Mukura community SACCO where he injected five million shillings to propel its growth, Kapelyebong Primary School and Kapelebyong Health Centre IV among others.
The Minister was accompanied by the area Members of Parliament. End.
