Soroti, Uganda | The Prime Minister of the Iteso Cultural Union,Andrew Ocole, has urged Itesots living and working abroad to return home and invest in projects that positively impact their communities and build lasting legacies.
He made the remarks during the launch of a newly established eye care facility (Clinison Medical Centre) in Owalei, Soroti City on May 30, 2025, spearheaded by Dr. Jane Agwaru, a medical professional whose family roots trace back to the region.
The facility offers vital eye care services and stands as the first of its kind in the area.
Ocole commended Dr. Agwaru for her visionary investment in healthcare and praised her father, Silvester Agwaru, for valuing and prioritizing his daughter’s education.
He noted that Dr. Agwaru’s success is a testament to the impact of investing in the girl-child, adding that in many households today, it is daughters who are sustaining families and driving change.
He challenged the community to rethink traditional priorities and place greater emphasis on educating girls and guiding children toward market-relevant careers.
He explained that the Iteso Cultural Union has developed a 10-year education and development strategy, with a strong focus on promoting science and technical education, increasing career mentorship, and ensuring that students pursue programs that are useful to their communities.
Ocole also revealed that the Cultural Union is in the process of introducing a community health insurance scheme aimed at helping families save and access affordable health care without having to sell off property in times of illness.
He said the new clinic stands as a potential partner in this initiative and urged residents with limited means to take advantage of such emerging systems of care.
He further pledged institutional support for local investors who face regulatory or logistical challenges in implementing projects, pointing out that the Union has successfully intervened in similar cases to ensure progress is not stalled by bureaucracy.
Calling on the Iteso diaspora, Ocole stressed that real legacy is built at home.
He pointed out that while many invest in places where they may be forgotten, projects built in one’s homeland live on as monuments of contribution and care.
