By Our Reporter
As the saying goes, work without play makes Jerry a very dull boy!
Our ever busy Vice President Maj. Jessica Alupo yesterday temporarily paused on her tight schedule, and revealed her other side of life as she showcased her football talent.
Clad in a red jersey with a yellow T-shirt inside bearing Gen. Yoweri Museveni’s portrait, the lady from Aketa (Katakwi district) didn’t disappoint spectators as she played, kicked and of course scored a very serious goal that can only be rivaled by Argentina’s Diego Maradona.
The bootilicious No.2 of the country, easily cruised all the way from her goal side, dodging other players with the ball until she reached the helpless goalkeeper of the opposite side and scored her gingatic goal leaving everyone in wild cheers!
This was last evening, 31st January, 2024 as Very Very Important Persons in the land led by an extremely jolly Alupo participated in a curtain raiser match before the Alupo Cup 2024 finals were played.
This most popular tournament in Katakwi district where Alupo is the woman legislator, is baptized as ALUPO CUP and is proudly sponsored by our very resourceful Second-in-Command Maj. Alupo!
Among the VVIPs who displayed their skills with our dear VP, are Ministers Akello Rose Lilly, Asamo Christine Hellen together with a line of other cream de la cream of the land.
The uniqueness in yesterday’s tournament was in its duo-purpose! Whereas some simply organize such tourneys for personal interests alone, Alupo tournament impacted the health of the people.
This Alupo tournament 2024 held at Apuuton Primary School impacted positively on the health sector in Katakwi district and beyond.
By the close of the game, 120 units of blood was collected during the match by blood bank health team, 400 people underwent H.I.V counseling and testing while 640 children were dewormed.
More to that, were 215 girls who were vaccinated against papilloma virus while massive numbers tested for blood pressure of which 76 new cases were discovered. There were also thousands who tested for diabetes of which 41 new cases were discovered.
All these successes in health aspects were courtesy of Katakwi district Health Officer Dr. Icumar Simon who managed the health segment of the Alupo tournament 2024.
The finals presided over by H.E Alupo, saw Usuk Town Council thumping Katakwi Town Council football team 5:4 goals, making Usuk the bull in the kraal.
“I want to thank all the teams that participated in Alupo Cup 2024. This is a clear indication that as a district and country at large, we love sports. Sports are a source of employment, talent development and above all, help us prevent Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) that come as a result of not doing physical exercises,” the Vice President counseled, adding that through regular sports activities, people can prevent diabetes, obesity among others illnesses.
She said government will continue to support sports by establishing sports facilities for youths to train adding that sports also help market the country at regional and international level.
The colorful function was crowned with a declaration by Teso youth led by Jacob Eyeru; the chairman of National Youth Council in which they endorsed H.E YKMuseveni as a sole candidate for NRM in the 2026 presidential elections.
