Karamoja youth centre ready in October

Sep 09, 2011

THE First Lady and Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Janet Museveni, has visited Kobulin Rehabilitation Centre to assess the ongoing construction works.

By Vision Reporter

THE First Lady and Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Janet Museveni, has visited Kobulin Rehabilitation Centre to assess the ongoing construction works.

Kobulin is a youth rehabilitation centre in Lorengechora sub-county in Napak district which has been dilapidated and non-functional for a long time. It is undergoing reconstruction to accommodate Karimojong street children soon to be repatriated by the Government from the streets of Kampala and other urban centres.

The work by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, through TABULA Contractors Ltd, involves the demolition of all the old structures and construction of new ones. It is expected to be complete by the end of October this year.

Mrs. Museveni, who was accompanied by the Karamoja affairs state minister, Barbara Nekesa Oundo, said that it was reassuring to see many people resettled in Lolet parish which had been abandoned due to insecurity, according to a statement issued on Wednesday.

She thanked God for the peace, security, and calm prevailing in Karamoja, saying this should now motivate the people to be productive and focus on development.

She appealed to the people of Karamoja to rise up and take advantage of the current rains and fertile soils to grow food so that famine and hunger are banished from Karamoja.

Mrs. Museveni said the Government would partner with skilled people, especially women, to work with the communities and mobilise them to live a wholesome life.

She encouraged the Karimojong to reclaim their culture of honest living and ensure that all Government programmes’ funds are not misappropriated and benefit the intended people.

The Karamoja affairs state minister, Barbara Oundo, implored the communities around Kobulin to receive those who will be resettled there with open hands and give them all the necessary support.

She said the Ministry for Karamoja Affairs would ensure that all Government programmes by line ministries are fully implemented and the development interventions are not futile.

Joseph Lomulia, who was resettled from the streets of Kampala in 2007 after 13 years and is now the LC1 chairperson of Lomaratoi Resettlement Camp, welcomed Kobulin’s reconstruction and refurbishment, saying it would restrain the resettled children from returning to the streets.

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