Poverty levels in West Nile worry retired Bishop Obetia

Apr 09, 2018

Obetia blamed the increasing levels of poverty and the poor education performance on parents, who have opted marry off their children at a tender age.

PIC: Retired former Anglican Bishop of Madi and West Nile Diocese the Rev. Joel Obetia (left) with Dr Jacinto Amandua during the relaunch of the West Nile Education Fund. (Credit: Denis Dibele)

EDUCATION


KAMPALA - The former Madi and West Nile Diocese Bishop, Dr Joel Obetia, has attributed the slow development programmes in the region to poverty at household level.

The cleric said the Church, through its social development arm, had tried to initiate and support poverty reduction projects in West Nile region, but poverty had persisted in many families.

"This is one area where I am not impressed," Obetia said.

"Reducing poverty among the communities of West Nile was my top priority, on top of evangelism," the cleric said during the launch of the West Nile Education Trust Fund at Hotel African in Kampala on Friday.

Obetia blamed the increasing levels of poverty and the poor education performance on parents, who have opted marry off their children at a tender age.

"We have the resources to develop our region, but the parents keep the cattle to marry for their children instead of educating them," he noted.

Obetia added: "What is wrong with you? Until we stop doing this; there will be no progress in the region."

He advised the leaders of the trust fund should select some schools in the region and improve their standards.

The education trust fund is aimed at revamping the education standards in the area as well as fighting poverty in West Nile region.

The fund that stands at sh50m, has started with a sponsorship of four underprivileged university students, who are pursuing bachelor's degrees in pharmacy and human medicine in public universities in the country.

The fund hopes to raise over sh5b in the next five years support over 300 learners at different education levels. The focus will be mainly on agriculture and science courses for the underprivileged, but bright students.

The funds target the districts of Arua, Adjumani, Moyo,Yumbe, Koboko, Maracha, Nebbi and Pakwach, while fall in the West Nile region.

The chairperson of the fund, Charles Draecabo, blamed the poor education performance in the area on the recently insurgencies that destabilised the peace.

The presidents West Nile Foundation, Caleb Alaka, said the area was known for exporting casual labourers to work in sugarcane plantations and work as security guards during the colonial era.

Bernard Atiku, the Ayivu County MP, who is also the chairperson of the West Nile parliamentary forum, said for the region was performing below 5% in primary and secondary examinations in the past five years.

"The trust fund will go a long way in strengthening the education system through training teaches among others," he said.

During the launch of the foundation trust fund, the group raised a total of sh218m both in cash and pledges, including sh5m donated by Vision Group.

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