Dokolo, Uganda – Dokolo North MP aspirant Joseph Jones Ogwal Omara has vowed to tackle poverty and youth crime through economic empowerment programs if elected in 2026 under the NRM ticket.
Speaking to the press today, Ogwal revealed that during his recent consultative engagements with constituents, he was deeply touched by the high levels of poverty, with many families unable to afford even UGX 10,000 in their households.
Another pressing issue he identified was the rising cases of theft, commonly linked to youth gangs referred to as Owuwuk, which have become a major threat to the people of Lango.
He noted that despite the growing insecurity caused by Owuwuk, no serious interventions have been taken to curb their criminal activities.
These gangs have been operating at night, stealing from people, robbing them and instilling fear in communities.
“These criminals, baptized as Owuwuk, are known to us; they live among us, and we even know their families,” Ogwal said.
To address this, he announced plans to launch a program called “Wopo Owuwuk Paco” aimed at tracing the origins of these criminals by engaging their families to understand the root causes of their actions.
Under this initiative, findings from the investigations will inform the creation of targeted programs to rehabilitate the youth.
Ogwal pledged to work closely with government officials, including the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) overseeing the Parish Development Model (PDM), to ensure families from which Owuwuk emerge benefit from the UGX 1 million PDM grants.
“Instead of using forceful approaches like arrests and imprisonment, which only push criminals back into society after serving their sentences, economic empowerment through initiatives like livestock businesses will help steer them away from crime,” Ogwal explained.
He also highlighted the lasting economic devastation caused by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) war, the COVID-19 pandemic and the unpredictable effects of climate change on farming.
He believes these factors have pushed many into crime due to a lack of opportunities.
Ogwal plans to transform Owuwuk from a night economy, where they engage in crime under the cover of darkness, to a day economy focused on legitimate income-generating activities.
He believes that providing capital incentives and structured business opportunities will help these youth transition from illegal activities to productive work that sustains their livelihoods.
Ogwal believes that empowering Owuwuk with capital incentives will help them initiate businesses and improve their livelihoods instead of resorting to criminal activities.
He emphasized that tracing their origins will help deconstruct their networks within the community, breaking the cycle of crime.
If elected, Ogwal promises to prioritize youth empowerment programs, providing capital for income-generating activities and organizing seminars to equip young people with skills before offering financial support.
