Justice Maitum decries declining education standards in Teso

PIC: Kaberamaido County MP Veronica Isala Eragu (left) and Justice Mary Maitum during the meeting. (Credit: Geoffrey Mutegeki)

KAMPALA - Retired Justice Mary Maitum has challenged parents mainly in Teso sub region to educate their children if they are to address issues of unemployment and under development in the region.

Maitum revealed that education is the greatest tool the people of Teso, especially the Kumam, can use to foster development.

She said many children are out of school even when some parents can afford educating them.

"We were known to have the most educated people in the country. But now Kaberamaido district is ranked among the last in terms of education. What happened?"

She was addressing members of Kabersolot Development Association (KDA) who had gathered in Kampala to attend the association's fourth annual general meeting on Saturday.

The meeting was held at Kati Kati Restaurant in Kampala

Maitum also decried the state of Kaberamaido Hospital which she said is lacking a number of equipment and needs urgent fixing.

"While growing up, Kaberamaido Hospital was well equipped, but now everything is deteriorating. Government should fix this facility to ease pressure on Soroti regional referral hospital."

KDA is an association that brings together people of the Kumam ethnic group, who are mainly found in the districts of Kaberamaido and Soroti.

On her part, Kaberamaido County MP Veronica Isala Eragu challenged members of the association to embrace government programs and come up with projects to help people improve their household incomes.

"If you must offer services, don't duplicate what government is doing. You should complement it, look for gaps that government has not been able to fill and fill them."

KDA chairperson Hillary Obonyo called for more committment from the association members

She called on Ugandans to always hold government accountable and seek quality service and also urged fellow politicians to guide people on development programs.

"We need to work together to develop our area. I'm glad, as people of Kumam, we are coming with developmental ideas."

The legislator suggested a cultural festival to be held in Kampala as a form of fundraising for the association to raise money for its operations.

Hillary Obonyo, the chairperson of KDA, asked members to be committed to the association and focus on projects that can help improve people's incomes.

"Commitment is the biggest tool we have for the survival of our association. I urge you to support the projects that we are going to undertake so that we help people in the community," he said.

The meeting was attended by over 100 people.