By Nathan Eyagu
KATAKWI
Residents in Katakwi district were on Sunday, 14th August, 2022 left with smiling faces after the district leadership together with other leaders fundraise for the rehabilitation of Katakwi Youths Skills Center.
The fundraising took place at St.Ann catholic parish grounds in Usuk county.
Leading the drive, Vice President Jessica Alupo who also doubles as the woman MP of Katakwi district announced and gave President Museveni’s donation of UGX 30m towards renovation of the social centre and her own humble contribution of 10m ugx saying that the centre once acted as shelter to them when they were Internally displaced Persons and was happy to contribute towards the cause as it will help different youth get different skills that will help them develop.
Hon Thomas Tayebwa, the deputy speaker of Parliament also contributed UGX 15m to the cause, while the area MP-Bosco Okiror contributed UGX 6M, Soroti city woman MP contributed 1m ugx,Pingire county MP Fred Opolot 1m, Cosmos Elotu of Dakabela county 2m,Peter Abaine, the Vice President’s husband 2m ugx together with other members of Parliament of other constituencies thus summing the total money fundraised to over UGX 100m in cash and pledges.
The Vice President encouraged the people of Katakwi to intensify their fight against
poverty especially by embracing commercial farming like diary, piggery,fruits,fish farming as their is ready market and other traditional foods too, adding thatSoroti fruit factory would be expanded and thus, a bigger market for the home grown fruits and to embrace the parish development model as it has come to change their livelihoods.
“Government’s plans to enhance education through the establishment of new secondary schools in Katakwi, but also else where, just like it’s continued commitment to enhance the health sector as Usuk County would soon get a health centre 4 to ease access to health”, she added.
The vice president also advised the 20 couples who earlier had a mass wedding during the day and 829 boys and girls who got confirmed in a holy mass led by the soroti catholic bishop Joseph Eciru Oliach to continue being good christians, remain faithful, educate their children untill they finish all their education cycles no matter the sex and the children to respect their parents.
Alupo also re-echoed her earlier calls to the masses to continously protect the environment as it’s very urgent and critical requesting them to take keen interest and play their part as it is the environment taking care of all of them.
The new Minister of State in charge of Economic monitoring-also Woman MP Agago District Hon Beatrice Akello thanked the Vice President for prioritizing the issues of youth.
“Utilise every opportunity given to you so that your future is great,reduce alcohol consumption drunkenness and utilize the rains to plant food and also investing in your children so as to shape their positive outlook”, she added.
In his remarks, Geoffrey Omollo the Katakwi district chairperson decried the high levels of defilement reported in the district and appealed to parents to become more responsible.
Earlier, the Bishop of Soroti Catholic Diocese Joseph Eciru animated a colorful mass, where 25 couples were wedded and prayed for the success of the ongoing church project which seeks to build a new Cathedral.
