By Andrew Cohen Amvesi
ARUA
There was untold excitement among a section of voters in Arua district when their Woman Member of Parliament (MP) Lillian Paparu Obiale gave an account of what she has so far done for the people in the last two and a half years.
Key in her success accountability report were the water projects she constructed across the district, parish women SACCO groups she supported, fundraisings to support different projects in the district, sports activities, school fees support, material support in terms of iron sheets and cement, fuel and health support among others, all computed to a tune of over shs700m.
Speaking during the function at Alaaru Hotel in Arua on Saturday, Richard Malenga, a resident of Omoo parish in Arivu sub-county expressed gratitude to Paparu and said this is the first of its kind for them to see an MP coming back to them after elections to give accountability of what she/he has done.
“First of all, this is one of the first evaluation meetings an MP in Vurra Constituency and in Arua district is calling the coordinators to come and get a report for two and a half years. There are so many activities Hon. Paparu has done, which actually has made the community to stand to celebrate her services in the district,” Malenga said.
“Why I say the evaluation meeting is very important is that she (Paparu) is a woman of good character, she has done a lot especially in Arivu sub-county. What she has done is more than what other MPs who stayed in power for more than 5-10 years did. Helping women in SACCO groups is one of the tremendous supports she has so far done in each parish in my sub-county. She has supported women with shs4m above in each parish and women are using that money to transform their lives,” Malenga remarked.
Pasca Aliru, a resident of Ozoo Parish in Logiri sub-county also shared similar sentiments, saying the accountability meeting was very important for them to know how much Paparu has so far done.
“In my parish, Paparu has protected some water springs and they are around seven in number. Then she is paying three students in secondary school; one is a boy and the two are girls. Paparu also gave cement for plastering the dormitory at Logiri Girls SS and there are a lot of other functions she has supported in my parish and Logiri sub-county at large,” Aliru recounted.
In a related incident, Zillian Asianzu, a resident of Ayayia parish in Ajia sub-county said a total of 1000 SACCO members in the four villages in her parish received shs4m boost from Paparu which money is being borrowed by the members to do business and later pay the school fees of their children and also support their homes.
“For me, I am accounting to my voters and the link or the person who connects me to my voters are my coordinators and that is why we agreed, we have done a district level meeting and we are going to do another review at sub-county level. When we go to the sub-county, we shall be involving some of the village mobilizers so that they also know what we are doing. So, those ones will also spread the message,” Paparu said in her remarks.
“Our plan to spend in 2023 was about shs250m but we have shot-up because we spent close to shs300m. So, for me it is a pride because there are not many people who can spend such money. That is not money from a donor, that is not money from the government office, these are monies that I’m paid for either facilitation or my salary which I end up saving. So, to me, it is a way of giving back to the people because I told them nobody is going to come to develop our community, it is about us to develop ourselves,” Paparu explained.
Boniface Alioni, the Arua district NRM chairperson said as NRM, they are very grateful to Paparu for calling such a meeting and encouraged other leaders in the district to emulate her.
“You know, accountability is very important because it makes you identify gaps and also see how you can fill those gaps. So, I want to appeal to the rest of the leaders that it should not only be MPs to give accountabilities because all leaders, at the end of the day, when they are going for votes they make promises to people. But it is important for you as a leader before the expiry of your term to come back to the people to give accountability of what you have done like what Paparu has done today,” Alioni appealed.
