OMORO BY-ELECTION

President Yoweri Museveni has assured Uganda that the government has more strength to eradicate poverty countrywide. 

“To you the leaders, the NRM government has put more strength in fighting poverty among the people. There are more policies the government has put in place to chase poverty," he said.

"We started with NAADS, followed by OWC (Operation Wealth Creation). In the third phase, the Government this time round handles it at parish level through the Parish Development Model, through which money is sent to the leaders that enables people to buy stock, seedlings, etc, in order to chase poverty in homes."

Museveni, who is also the chairman of the ruling NRM party, was addressing a public rally at Odek Primary School in Olam village in Omoro district on Tuesday.

The rally was part of campaigns for the NRM flagbearer in the Omoro parliamentary by-election race, Andrew Ojok Oulanyah.

Ojok is the son the late Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah, who was the occupant of the Omoro County MP at the time of his death on March 20 this year.

There are six candidates vying for the seat, two months after Oulanyah died in a hospital in the US city of Seattle.

President arriving for the public rally in Omoro district

'This is Oulanyah's term'

While drumming up support for Ojok on Tuesday, Museveni said another phase for national socio-economic transformation is through a constituency fund meant for those with skills, Emyooga, and other enterprises. 

"In the long run, the government can embark on building the infrastructure; roads, schools, health centres. Government cannot build tarmac roads where people are still walking barefoot. So, we want to start with the homes to chase poverty."

He attributed the NRM's successes to exemplary leadership by selfless and patriotic individuals like the late Oulanyah.

“I appeal to you, the people of Omoro county, to support the NRM parliamentary candidate, Andrew Ojok, so that he comes and continues to complete the work the late Oulanyah would have accomplished in his term of five years in Parliament," rallied Museveni.

He thanked the people of Omoro for being civilised and visionary in nominating Ojok to fill the position left by his father. 

“This is Oulanyah's term, which must be finished by a person near him - the son.”

Museveni flashes the thumbs up sign after handing Ojok the party flag

Saying that Ojok has an opportunity to launch his own political career, Museveni gave credit to aspirants who stepped aside in his favour. 

“This is not the end of the world. So, I am happy you handled the matter very well.

"All I want from Ojok is to learn how to help the people to develop. Uganda is easy to develop with clear leadership," said the NRM leader.

Museveni noted that many leaders lack the element of clarity in reminding the public how to promote socio-economic transformation at homestead level.

He said a homestead with a four-acre piece of land can make it commercially profitable by having on it coffee, fruits, pasture for zero grazing animals for dairy, poultry and fish farming, with a target of earning not less than sh10m.

“Anything where one gets less than sh1m per acre, I do not encourage.”

The President happily noted that Omoro has high production of soya beans, which prompted him to inform the area people that he will identify an investor to process the produce with a target of adding value and capturing the  international market.

“NRM people, do away with poverty in this kisanja [term of office]! Do it with accountability."

After addressing the rally, Museveni proceeded to pay homage to the family of the late Oulanyah, where he was received by his father, Mzee Nathan Okori.

He later laid a wreath on the grave of the late legislator, before addressing another public rally at Opit Primary School in Omoro Town Council.

In attendance were key government officials and local leaders, including Northern Uganda minister Grace Freedom Kwiyucwiny, environment state minister Beatrice Anywar, NRM's director of mobilisation Rosemary Seninde and area MPs. 

The party's secretary general, Richard Todwong, acknowledged the support of the central executive committee, whose representatives all travelled to Omoro to mobilise for the NRM candidate. 

Todwong and Anywar in Omoro

The by-election will take place on Thursday (May 26).

The other five candidates in the race are:

- Simon Tolit (National Unity Platform)
- Justine Odong (Forum for Democratic Change)
- Oscar Kizza (Alliance for National Transformation)
- Jimmy Walter Onen (Independent)
- Terence Odonga (Independent)

'Tremendous support'

“The key of this campaign is that we shall be moving from house to house, home to home, person to person, village to village and win to win," Todwong told his party leader.

He commended the cohesion in the Omoro district party leadership that saw other contenders step down in  favour of Ojok.

The district LC5 chairman, Douglas Peter Okello Okao, commended the President for being the key player in the peace and stability in the area, as well as being the champion in the effort to steer socio-economic transformation in Uganda.

“Your Excellency, you invited us in the spirit of the NRM party to replace the late Oulanyah with his son. All aspirants stepped down. All declared to step down in support of the NRM flagbearer. You have seen it yourself. 

"Andrew Ojok has tremendous support among the people,” said Okello.

Andrew Ojok is hoping to replace his late father as the MP of Omoro County

On his part, candidate Ojok pledged that he will be a committed messenger of the electorate through giving true reports of accountability of service delivery.

 “We shall do all this together," he rallied.

Ojok thanked the President for being with his family during the period of mourning and now in the campaign to see him replace his father.