Tororo district council honours the late Oketcho

By Faustine Odeke

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

The district chairman, Emmanuel Osuna, said Oketcho’s active performance in Parliament generated numerous achievements for the district especially at the time he chaired the budget committee of parliament where he helped to lobby for extension of multibillions projects.

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

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Speaker Paul Michi pays his last respect to Oketcho at the district chambers

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

"We the people of Tororo are still disturbed by the development as no explanation was given for the suspension and subsequent replacement of Oketcho as NWSC board chairman. We therefore demand for an explanation from government concerning the disgraceful act taken’’ Osuna said.

Oketcho was appointed the chairman of NSWC after losing his hotly contested seat to Fox Odoi but was later controversially suspended by the line minister Ephraim Kamuntu over differences of opinions on the recruitment of the new Managing Director on the directive of the Inspector General of Government.

Osuna moved  a motion for paying tribute to the late and the other to acknowledge his excellent performance and contributions towards the development of Tororo district while still an MP from 2006-2011.

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 the job benefits. 

The district Speaker, Paul Mich, appealed to other leaders to emulate the lifestyle of the late Oketcho of always giving precedence to service before asking for reward.

The late Okecho, who died of kidney failure, will be laid to rest at his ancestral home of Paya in Budama North, Tororo on Friday.