People
'Always on the ground': Bugiri residents laud Oketcho’s community empowerment drive
“He has done in months what others failed to do in years," says one resident.
Bugiri Municipality Member of Parliament, John Francis Oketcho (R) interacts with a resident
By: Javier Silas Omagor, Journalist @New Vision
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COMMUNITY
Residents of Bugiri Municipality in Uganda's eastern district of Bugiri have lauded their Member of Parliament, John Francis Oketcho, for his community empowerment initiatives.
They say his first months in the 12th Parliament have already brought tangible change to households.
They say Oketcho, who defeated JEEMA president Asuman Basalirwa in the 2026 general elections earlier this year, has matched vibrant representation in Parliament with practical interventions on the ground.
At Parliament, Oketcho, a professional development economist, sits on the committees of tourism, trade and industry as well as HIV&AIDS and other related matters, where he has voiced issues affecting his constituents during plenary debates, committee work and through lobbying in ministries.
“He has done in months what others failed to do in years. From the e-goat money to free school exams, Honourable Oketcho thinks about the common person,” says Jane Namukobe, a vendor in Bugiri town.
Abdul Kasiira, a businessman, says their MP "is always on the ground".
"During Ramadhan, he remembered the mosques, during thanksgiving he ate with us. This is true leadership.”
Before joining Parliament, Oketcho supported over 7,000 women with sh100,000 each under his famous “e-goat” initiative to boost household incomes.
He also supported the elderly with posho and beans, earning him the nickname “Bandoyange,” and paid school fees for needy children.
Immediately after being declared winner, he donated 100kg of posho (maize meal) and 50kg of sugar to each mosque during Ramadhan to facilitate Iftar.
After swearing-in, he hosted a thanksgiving ceremony at Hindocha Primary School, where he slaughtered seven bulls and served 10,000kg of rice to thousands of supporters.
In education, he has supported music, dance and drama (MDD) in primary schools and donated a multi-million-shilling printing machine to the municipal education department, scrapping the sh5,000 examination fees parents were paying.
Before joining Parliament, Oketcho supported over 7,000 women with sh100,000 each under his famous “e-goat” initiative to boost household incomes.
He also supported the elderly with posho and beans, earning him the nickname “Bandoyange,” and paid school fees for needy children.
Immediately after being declared winner, he donated 100kg of posho (maize meal) and 50kg of sugar to each mosque during Ramadhan to facilitate Iftar.
After swearing-in, he hosted a thanksgiving ceremony at Hindocha Primary School, where he slaughtered seven bulls and served 10,000kg of rice to thousands of supporters.
In education, he has supported music, dance and drama (MDD) in primary schools and donated a multi-million-shilling printing machine to the municipal education department, scrapping the sh5,000 examination fees parents were paying.
He also lobbied relief food from the Office of the Prime Minister for all government-aided primary schools.
Oketcho injected over sh5 million into the Bukooli-Bugiri Masaza Cup team, donated sh1 million to the people of Kiwalazi for community road maintenance, and supported mosques, including Masjid Mecca in Naluwerere, Masjid Nasru in Katawo, Masjid Kahf in Naluwerere, and others in Musongola and Ndifakulya.
He has also supported Muslim women seminars and individuals at personal level.
Currently, Oketcho is running a community economic enterprise programme that is financially empowering the people of Bugiri Municipality.
He is also set to deliver garbage collection trucks to improve sanitation.
Sarah Achieng, a beneficiary of the enterprise programme, said the support transformed her livelihood.
“I received support through the MP’s enterprise programme and added stock to my small shop. Today, I pay my children's school fees without borrowing,” she said.
Achieng likens Oketcho's approach to President Yowei Museveni's repeated calls on the importance of leaders embracing income-generating initiatives for the people they lead.
Oketcho injected over sh5 million into the Bukooli-Bugiri Masaza Cup team, donated sh1 million to the people of Kiwalazi for community road maintenance, and supported mosques, including Masjid Mecca in Naluwerere, Masjid Nasru in Katawo, Masjid Kahf in Naluwerere, and others in Musongola and Ndifakulya.
He has also supported Muslim women seminars and individuals at personal level.
Currently, Oketcho is running a community economic enterprise programme that is financially empowering the people of Bugiri Municipality.
He is also set to deliver garbage collection trucks to improve sanitation.
Sarah Achieng, a beneficiary of the enterprise programme, said the support transformed her livelihood.
“I received support through the MP’s enterprise programme and added stock to my small shop. Today, I pay my children's school fees without borrowing,” she said.
Achieng likens Oketcho's approach to President Yowei Museveni's repeated calls on the importance of leaders embracing income-generating initiatives for the people they lead.