Amolatar district in hotly contested Woman MP race
ELECTION WATCH | AMOLATAR WOMAN MP
Five women are tussling it out for the Amolatar district Woman MP seat.
They are Doreen Amule, the incumbent, who is contesting as an independent after losing in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries, and Agnes Atim Apea, the NRM flag-bearer.
Others are Colline Angwech (independent), Loyce Akello (Uganda People's Congress) and former minister of microfinance Caroline Amali Okao (independent).
Who is Amule?
Amule was an educationist before joining politics in 2011, serving as a district councillor and, later, district speaker.
It was this position that she used to campaign and win the Woman MP slot in 2016.
Amule says she has already done many things for the people of Amolatar and will continue to do more.
She says she has supported many schools right from their establishment until the Government took over some of them.
The incumbent says she has also offered education and bursaries to orphans and other vulnerable children in the district.
Amule also says she bought sewing machines for girls who dropped out of school to get them trained in tailoring.
She says she has supported 104 churches and also bought an ambulance to help her people.
New plans
Amule says if re-elected, she will support women groups to improve their livelihoods.
The incumbent says she wants to introduce co-operative clubs for the youth, where members can be trained and equipped with skills.
"Most of our religious leaders suffer in silence. They cannot come out to beg for support yet they serve the community. They need to be supported," she says.
What Apea says
Apea, commonly known as ‘Imat Ocere' because of the upland rice programme she initiated in the district, says she will ensure that rice production increases.
Apea says she also wants to improve businesses of the electorate by equipping them with the right skills.
She also promises to fight poverty in the district.
"When I become MP, I will improve health and education. These are key sectors for our society, which need more attention," she says.
Okao lists achievements
Okao is another candidate contesting again after losing in the 2016 elections. She served as MP from 2006 to 2016 and lost the seat to Amule.
Amolatar was created in 2005 and Okao was the first Woman MP and was later appointed a minister in 2011.
Okao is credited with providing clean water and helping different groups.
Who is Angwech?
Angwech, who has vast experience from working in non-governmental organisations, says she has already shown Amolatar people her capacity by doing a number of things before being elected.
Angwech says she has done a lot in the education sector by supporting schools and offered scholarships to orphans.
"During the lockdown, I provided maize floor to the vulnerable such as persons living with HIV, people with disabilities and the elderly," she says.
Angwech also says she distributed 30 mattresses to different health facilities in Amolatar for maternity wards.
She says she will advocate better service delivery in education and health lobbying for a functional theatre at Amolatar Health Centre IV.
Angwech also pledges to lobby for better roads.
Loyce Akello's priorities
Akello, who is currently the district female youth councillor, says the biggest issue she wants to tackle is funding for women groups and promoting education for girls.
Most residents say they want better service delivery in health, education and infrastructure.