By Solomon Okabo
President Yoweri Museveni has challenged farmers in Oyam district to embrace commercial farming to improve their household income and alleviate poverty.
While campaigning for Junior Samuel Engola, NRM flag bearer for Oyam North by-election at Otwal Primary School in Otwal Sub County on Tuesday, basing on the types of clothes people put on and the kind of shoes they wear, president Museveni concluded that people in Oyam are languishing in abject poverty because of growing food crops.
“When I was coming I was looking through the window of the car and I could see cassava and maize. I didn’t see coffee; I didn’t see fruits. I didn’t see “Dyang me cak”. I didn’t see fish farming. I didn’t see poultry for eggs so how are you chasing poverty here? In the NRM manifesto we told you about the four-acre model. One acre for coffee. One acre for fruits. One acre for pasture and acre number four for homestead fruits and then poultry and piggery in the backyard, “he said.
The president said NRM Party has done enough to maintain peace in the country, improve on infrastructures like schools and hospitals not withstanding wealth creation projects but wondered why many families in northern Uganda especially in Oyam have remained poor, rallying Oyam North voters to elect the late minister Engola’s son to allow him continue with Engola’s legacy.
“If you look at the late Okello Engola he had scored 90% so now that you are looking for somebody to replace him we are lucky one of his sons was near him. It is therefore possible that this fellow who was near him may have been understanding what he was doing and follow it. Although the children sometimes do their own things differently from their parents, on our side it is correct to say ahh! Maybe this boy was following what the father was doing so let’s try him, “he added.
District Leaders response
Benson Walter Dila, Oyam District LCV Chairman listed three reasons why many people are still poor in Oyam namely; high prices of seeds, bad roads and no electricity for value addition.
“The people of Oyam are hardworking in principle but there are four challenges. Challenge number one is access to the market for agricultural products like soya beans, maize and cassava. Issue number two is low prices of agricultural produce that is now encouraging the middle men to move straight and buy from the farmers but at very low prices.”
The seeds are a bit expensive and the poor state of roads and low power extension. Oyam has been receiving only Shs300 million but there is hope that the Shs 1billion your Excellency you have added to all administrative units will help us work on a number of roads,” he said.
Appeal for government support
Morish Okwir, a model farmer in Aleka Sub County in Oyam District who cultivated 100 acres of soya this season, says, “I have a tractor that helps me cultivate on a large scale. We also have a SACCO for Aleka and Otwal Businessmen. I am appealing for financial support from the government to boost the growth of our SACCO,” he said.
President Museveni addressed two rallies with one at Tegony primary school playground in Iceme town council and another at Otwal Primary School in Otwal Sub County. Several UPC and FDC supporters defected to NRM.
Junior Engola, while receiving the party flag from President Museveni, pledged to fulfil all pledges made by his late father while in office once elected into the 11th Parliament.
“I pledge that everything that my late father committed to do I will follow up. I will follow them up to the dot. Do you remember about the lorry of Otwal SS. I am now the hair of my late father Macodwogo. People of Abok, the issue of the forest reserve will be handled in Parliament. Electricity should be extended in Aleka, Electricity should be extended in Abok. Electricity should be extended in villages to fight poverty, “he said.
Denis Hamson Obua, the Government Chief Wipe who is also the Ajuri County Member of Parliament says the campaign by President Museveni will boost more support for Ex Minister Engola’s son Junior Samuel Engola. Oyam North County will on Thursday tomorrow go to polls to decide on the next candidate to replace the late Gender Minister Rt. Col. Charles Okello Engola Macodwogo who was assassinated on 2 May 2023 at his home in Kampala by his bodyguard Pte. Wilson Sabiti.
