Serere, Uganda – State Minister for Disaster Preparedness, Hon. Lillian Aber, has reaffirmed President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s unwavering commitment to the development of the Teso Sub-region, urging residents to embrace government programs aimed at transitioning them from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture.
Speaking at the belated International Women’s Day celebrations at Asilang Primary School in Atiira Sub County, Serere District, Aber emphasized that the President’s love for Teso is demonstrated through deliberate poverty eradication efforts such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga.
She noted that Serere District has received billions in PDM disbursements since 2022, with funds being directed to parish-level SACCOs, each receiving up to UGX 100 million per financial year to support income-generating activities, including livestock rearing, horticulture and small-scale agro-processing.
With over 88% of parishes having successfully formed SACCOs, the initiative is steadily transforming livelihoods.
Despite these efforts, Aber expressed concern that development remains elusive in many households due to family breakdowns, with men increasingly abandoning their responsibilities, leaving women to raise children alone.
She urged women to take the lead in rebuilding communities, promoting family unity, and ensuring a stable home environment.
She also commended Serere Woman MP and State Minister for Fisheries, Hon. Hellen Adoa, for her transformative leadership, warning against unappreciative tendencies among voters who only recognize good leadership after losing it.
She called upon local government leaders to collaborate with Adoa in accelerating development and advised women, especially those active in church, to prioritize their families before attending prayers or burials.
In her remarks, Minister Adoa highlighted Uganda’s progress in women’s empowerment under President Museveni, citing the elevation of women to top leadership positions, including Vice President Jessica Alupo, Speaker Anita Among and Prime Minister Robbinah Nabbanja.
She credited government programs like PDM and Emyooga for enabling women to become financially independent but cautioned them against allowing empowerment to disrupt family dynamics, urging them to respect their husbands and maintain household harmony.
She also rebuked men who neglect their responsibilities in favor of gambling and idleness, attributing the rising moral decay among youth to poor parenting.
In a rare show of bipartisan support, Soroti District Woman MP Hon. Ann Adeke, a member of the opposition, endorsed Adoa’s leadership, urging Serere residents to support her in the coming elections.
She likened leadership to a fruitful tree, cautioning against unnecessary change for the sake of it.
Her endorsement was met with applause, underscoring Adoa’s cross-party influence.
Serere Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Robert Adiama Ekaju used the platform to address the rising cases of violent crime in the district, warning that law enforcement would deal decisively with the perpetrators.
Drawing from his experience as a former intelligence officer in Teso, he recalled recovering nine illegal guns during the peak of killings between 2004 and 2005 and expressed concern over the resurgence of violence since 2010.
He clarified that the recent murders were the result of domestic conflicts rather than political machinations, calling for stronger community engagement to prevent such incidents.
Speaking on the day’s theme, “Accelerating Action for Gender Equality,” Ekaju praised President Museveni’s legal reforms and programs promoting gender equity, including the Domestic Violence Act and Anti-Gender-Based Violence initiatives.
However, he warned that true gender equality should not translate to men abdicating their responsibilities but rather fostering mutual support within families.
His sentiments were echoed by Rev. Joseph Otiira, Parish Priest of Asilang Church of Uganda, who advised women to remain humble and respectful in their relationships even when they achieve financial independence.
He emphasized that development is only possible when families are stable and both partners fulfill their God-given roles in raising children and managing the home.
The event, which brought together hundreds of women and local leaders, reinforced the government’s commitment to gender equality, economic empowerment and social transformation, while also calling for personal responsibility in ensuring sustainable development in the Teso Sub-region.
