POLITICS | ALUPO  | VICE PRESIDENT 

KATAKWI - The mother of the new Vice-President, Jessica Alupo Epel, Bernadette Akol Epel, has welcomed the news of her daughter’s appointment with tears of joy.

The 74-year-old retired midwife spent Wednesday (June 9) morning praying in her compound and thanking God for elevating her fourth-born into the second-highest position in the land.

“When I heard my daughter’s name being mentioned on radio as the new Vice-President, I nearly collapsed.

“Alupo from Ongongoja, to be named vice-President? Could it have been the joke of the day? Jesus! Alupo is VicePresident!” a happy Akol told New Vision on Wednesday.

Seated on a mat and shelling groundnuts, which she said were for her daughter in Kampala, Mama Akol expressed her gratitude to President Yoweri Museveni for appointing her daughter.

Vice President’s mother Toto Bernadette Akol Epel in her maize garden in her village of Oigo Imumwa, Usuk, Katakwi district. (Photos by Godfrey Ojore)

“I am very grateful to the President for considering my daughter among all the people in the country to be his vice. Thank you God for guiding him to appoint my daughter, who is humble and Godfearing,” Akol said.

She called on the President to pay her a visit so that she can slaughter a bull for him in appreciation.

“Museveni has money, so I can only offer him a bull that we can roast and enjoy together. His choice is the best because Alupo was brought up well,” Akol said.

She advised her daughter not to take her appointment for granted, but to seek God’s guidance to serve the people with dignity.

“I also advise her to be respectful to her boss and always be in office on time. She should also be a servant to the people not a boss,” Akol said.

However, she was concerned about the security of her daughter, so she appealed to the President to ensure that she is well- protected.

“I pray for her security because at one time they attempted to kill her in Mabira,” Akol said.

Maj.(rtd) Jessica Alupo, the Vice President.

She also appealed to the people of Teso to pray for the new Vice-President, who started her duties on Friday.

“She should not be viewed as the Vice- President for Akol or my clan, but as a national leader, who is supposed to serve the entire nation. As much as we shall need her more in Teso, her services shall also be needed in Kabale, Nebbi and other parts of the country,” Akol said.

She described Alupo as a humble girl, who used to help her tend the cattle, as well as milking, besides cooking for the family.

“As the fourth-born in the family of nine, she was the only girl that helped me because the first and third-born were all boys. She has never rejected my advice or that of her father,” Akol said.

Alupo’s father, George Epel, a former primary school headteacher, was killed in 2003 by the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels.

“The only thing she did without our blessing was joining the army. We did not want her to join the army, but she secretly went and was successful and served in many places,” Akol said.