By: Ismael Kasooha
MOYO
The Madi people from West Nile have petitioned the Government to grant them a full regional status because of their location and the challenges they face.
Williams Anyama, the Moyo LC V Chairperson said that the Local Government leaders, Members of Parliament, NRM party leaders of West Nile sub region and the people are presenting a petition requesting government to grant West Nile sub region a fully-fledged regional status.
The Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja being welcomed to Moyo by the leaders led by Minister Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu at Moyo Stadium on Saturday
“The people of west Nile are not happy that our development interests are being hidden under Northern Uganda yet Northern Uganda is perceived to be Gulu and Acholi sub region and the people of West Nile sub region do not get the required support and attention from the Ministry in charge of Northern Uganda as expected,” Anyama.
The issues were raised during the maiden visit of the Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja to Moyo District where she commissioned Moyo Town Main Market, presided over the second graduation for Moyo School of Nursing and Midwifery and also was Chief Guest during the belated Moyo District Women’s Day celebrations.
Nabbanja was in Moyo District at the invitation of Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu, the State Minister for Primary Education and also the Moyo District Woman Member of Parliament.
The Premier Robinah Nabbanja with the State Minister for Primary Education Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu and other leaders commissioning Moyo Town Main Market
Anyama said that the people of Moyo District and Madi in general are grateful to His Excellency Gen. Yoweri Museveni the President of the Republic of Uganda for providing sustainable leadership and peace which is the bedrock for socio-economic transformation.
The other critical issues raised included the fast-trackingof the construction of Laropi-Omi bridge and Laropi-Afoji-Jale Road project which will open Uganda and West Nile in particular to the opportunities of regional trade; granting a municipality status to Moyo Town Council which is the only pre-Independence Town Council that has never been elevated to Municipality status yet the contemporaries are now cities and municipalities.
After commissioning the Moyo Town Market, the leaders said that there was a need to complete the market because what was commissioned was the first phase due to scarce financial resources. Other women continue to operate in makeshift structures because all the 10,000 vendors cannot be accommodated in the market.
Anyama asked the Government to address the endless suffering of Dufile Sub county from elephants’ invasion and destruction of crops and property.
Vendors excited in their Newly constructed Moyo town main market
“I want to present to you a copy of the land title for 200 acres of land located near Afoji customs for establishment of an industrial park and cross-border market. We ask Uganda Investment Authority to take advantage of this offer in line with the vision of President Yoweri Museveni in championing industrialization and job creation,” said Anyama.
The leaders also echoed a reminder about the presidential pledge of compensating the cattle raid claimants of 2014 and 2018 incidents by armed people from South Sudan. The claim that the affected people have since lost livelihoods and many have had their children drop out of school and others have died due to socio-economic hardships.
The other issue was the spinning mill former workers in Lira totaling to 77 from the West Nile sub region who have not been paid.
Anyama noted that Moyo is endowed with high value mineral resources especially Metu and Itula sub counties which are blessed with huge deposits of gold and cement making raw materials. He requested the government to interest investors in the mineral sector to venture in the region.
The Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Nabbanja Robinah commissioning Moyo School of Nursing and Midwifery in Moyo District flanked by the State Minister for Primary Education Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu and other leaders
On the issue of electricity, Anyama said that Moyo was connected to the national grid from Karuma through Arua but most of the sub counties had not been connected. He also requested the government to extend electricity to Obongi District Headquarters that did not have power at all.
In the education sector, Anyama briefed the Prime Minister that Moyo had 10 lower Local Governments but 5 of 10 did not have even a single Secondary School which has greatly affected Universal access to secondary education in the district.
The District boss also requested the government to FastTrack Pajakiri piped water project which was being implemented by the Ministry of Water and Environment but the project stalled without any explanation and public facility was idle and not benefiting the people there.
“We appeal to the government to ensure this project is completed so that the people can access clean and safe water,” said Anyama.
The leaders in West Nile appealed to the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development to expedite the process of internal and international boundary verification and opening to stop inter-district boundary disputes and cross border conflicts more especially with the Republic of South Sudan.
The leaders lauded President Yoweri Museveni for his clear stand and declaration on the location of Apa which is in Adjumani District. However, they expressed concern about the Government’s delay to resolve the matter.
Responding to issues raised by the people of West Nile, the Premier Robinah Nabbanja assured the people that the government would address the concerns raised to improve service delivery in the region.
“I have taken note of all the issues raised in the petition and the concerned Ministries will come to Moyo to assess how they can be addressed. I will send Minister Nyamutoro to come and address the minerals issue and other Ministers will come to the area to work on your concerns,” said Nabbanja.
Nabbanja while in Moyo commissioned Moyo School of Nursing and Midwifery that was constructed by the State Minister for Primary Education Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu and commended her for the effort in skilling Ugandans.
Nabbanja asked the market vendors to take care of the sh2.8bn market constructed by the government of Uganda with support from USMID to grow their businesses.
The people of Moyo asked President Yoweri Museveni to contest as a sole candidate in 2026 elections and signed on a banner to affirm their support to President Museveni. They also donated to him a traditional spear and a court of arms as a sign of power.
End
