UNICEF donates 525 bikes to Lira

By Moses Odongo THE United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef) has given 525 bicycles worth over sh52m to parish development committees and community volunteer counsellors in Lira district. The sub-counties to benefit from the programme includes Aromo, Ogur, Omoro, Olilim, Okwang, Adwari and Orum. The bicycles are to help them collect data, promote planning and help them access traumatised children affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army war. It is also to facilitate them carry out social and and economic mobilisation on adolescent, children and women issues. Naptali Opyene Oludi, the district council vice- chairman, handed over the bicycles to parish development committees and community volunteer counsellors at the district council chambers yard on Wednesday. He commended UNICEF for the assistance which he said would enable the district implement its five-year development programme. Daniel Odewedo, the chief administrative officer, warned the recipients against diverting the bicycles for other use. He said those who will defy the directives will have their bicycles withdrawn. Francis Okello, the UNICEF district coordinator, said UNICEF would provide 525 radios and megaphones to parish development committees and community volunteer counsellors.