Otuoma responds to claims of opposing creation of Teso County

By Peter Ochieng

Busia governor Paul Nyongesa Otuoma has warned leaders against sowing seeds of discord amongst communities living in the border county.

Speaking at Kakapel location in Teso North sub county when he attended the annual Iteso Cultural Festival, the governor urged the political class to concentrate on preaching peace and tranquility in the county.

He called on Members of the Busia County Assembly (MCAs) to desist from divisive and premature politics, and instead concentrate on working for people who elected them.

"You cannot be elected today and the following day you hit the campaign trail again. This is what is pulling us back on development, and it is immoral."

The former Funyula Member of Parliament (MP) told off leaders who claimed the county government was sidelining the Teso region in terms of development.

"MCAs just passed the supplementary budget the other day. And that's our first main budget of my government. So which is this other budget upon which some people are claiming we have developed other parts of the county and by-passed Teso?"

Some leaders present, among them Teso North MP Oku Kaunya, Busia County Assembly Speaker Fredrick Odilo and Principal Administrative Secretary in the Office of the President Arthur Osiya, accused the governor of sidelining Teso in development.

Kaunya particularly pointed out that Otuoma was opposed to the push for creation of Teso County.

Otuoma denied the allegations, stating that having Teso county hived off from Busia will mean more resources to the region. He however insisted that leaders must unite to see the dream come through.

"I am in full support of Teso region having autonomy of a county. What is important is having unity," he stated.

His deputy, Arthur Odera blamed cartels for 'trying very hard' to derail their development agenda for the county.

"There are cartels who are a bottleneck in our endeavour to improve service delivery."

He warned that they shall 'deal with then accordingly.'