Tororo district council honors ex-MP Oketcho

By Faustine Odeke

Tororo district leaders have hailed the fallen Budama North constituency MP William Oketcho as a unifying factor who always preached peace even during the time when the district was sharply divided on tribal issues over the curving out of another district.

The district chairman Emmanuel Osuna said Oketcho’s active performance in Parliament generated numerous achievements especially at the time he chaired the budget committee where he lobbied for extension of multibillion-shilling projects to Tororo district. 

Presenting an eulogy during a special council meeting in honour of Oketcho at the district chambers, Osuna said among the programmes he lobbied for included Northern Uganda Social Action Fund, Community Agricultural Infrastructural Improvement Programme, Peace Recovery and Development programme for Northern Uganda, piped water extension and rural electrification programme in collaboration with the former district woman MP Grace Oburu.

The leaders also demanded government to lift a suspension slapped on the late Oketcho the Board chairman of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC). 

“We the people of Tororo are still disturbed by the development because no explanation was given for the suspension and subsequent replacement of Oketcho as NWSC board chairman. We, therefore, demand an explanation concerning the act” Osuna said.

Oketcho was appointed chairman of NSWC after losing his hotly contested seat to Fox Odoi but was later suspended by the line minister Ephraim Kamuntu on the directive of the Inspector General of Government.

Osuna moved a motions for paying tribute to the late and the other to acknowledge his excellent performance and contributions towards the development of Tororo district.

The council unanimously seconded the demand of lifting the abrupt suspension of the late Okecho to not only clear his name but also allow his family members get access to benefits.  

The district speaker Paul Mich appealed to other leaders to emulate the lifestyle of the late Oketcho of always giving precedence to service delivery.

Okecho succumbed to kidney failure and will be laid to rest at his ancestral home at Paya in Budama North, Tororo on Friday.