Teso Muslims celebrate Eid Al-Adha and Alupo’s re-appointment

TESO - Muslims in the Teso sub-region used this year’s Eid Al-Adha celebrations to express joy and gratitude over the re-appointment of Jessica Alupo and other leaders from the region to President Yoweri Museveni’s new cabinet.

Although the region lost one of its senior ministers, Abubakar Jeje Odongo, who was dropped as Minister of Foreign Affairs after serving for five years, the mood among Muslims in Teso remained cheerful and optimistic.

Odongo, who retained his Orungo County parliamentary seat as an independent candidate, was among several leaders from Teso left out in the latest cabinet reshuffle. Others dropped include Musa Ecweru, Hellen Adoa and Hellen Asamo.

The region, which previously held the positions of Vice President, one cabinet minister and seven state ministers, has seen its representation in cabinet reduce significantly.

Teso also lost the Speaker of Parliament position after Anita Annet Among withdrew from the race amid investigations into allegations of corruption, money laundering and abuse of office.

Muslim women during Eid prayers at Soroti Grounds. (Credit: Godfrey Ojore)

Despite the changes, residents welcomed the retention of Alupo as Vice President alongside the re-appointment of Clement Ongalo-Obote for Teso affairs, Peter Ogwang for Sports and Sidronius Okaasai Opolot for Energy.

The appointment of businessman David Calvin Echodu as State Minister for Foreign Affairs in charge of International Affairs was also widely celebrated.

Leading Eid Al-Adha prayers at the sports grounds in Soroti, Sheikh Obilan called on the people of Teso to appreciate President Museveni for maintaining trust in the region.

“Teso must be proud of the government of President Museveni for continuously trusting us by retaining our daughter as Vice President. We should also appreciate him for the additional appointments because we cannot be the only tribe represented in the cabinet,” Obilan said.

The sheikh urged Muslims not to blame the President for dropping some ministers, saying leadership appointments come from God.

“We are in double celebration today, celebrating Eid Al-Adha and also celebrating Alupo, a mother who loves Muslims like she is one of us. Over 14 million Muslims in our country are happy with her re-appointment,” he added.

Soroti RDC Hajji Imuran Mulunga seated next to a Muslim man living with disabilities as they prayed during the Eid Al Adha prayers at Soroti sports ground. (Credit: Godfrey Ojore)

Shafik Ogulei, a Muslim faithful from Aukot subcounty, praised Alupo for maintaining close ties with local communities.

“Despite being from Soroti district, Alupo remains a mother for the whole region. She has a big heart and means well for Teso. As Muslims, she has always found time to attend our meetings,” Ogulei said.

Maimuna Atim said she spent the previous night celebrating Alupo’s re-appointment because of her support for Muslim leaders and women in the region.

“It is through her efforts that two Muslim women from Teso received government sponsorship to Mecca this year after our leaders appealed to her office for support,” Atim said.

The Resident district commissioner of Soroti also welcomed the appointment of Echodu, describing it as a reward for Soroti City West, an area previously dominated by the opposition.

As celebrations continued, residents appealed to the newly appointed leaders to prioritise compensation for lost cattle and lobby for improved infrastructure across the Teso sub-region.