Teso Cultural Festival Turns Political as Leaders Criticize Busia County Government

Teso,

Thursday 28 December 2023

KNA by Absalom Namwalo

The Teso cultural festival at Kakapel Museum on Wednesday turned as Teso leaders criticized the county government of Busia for allegedly failing to meet the community’s socio-economic and political needs.

However, the Governor Dr. Paul Otuoma and Deputy Governor Arthur Odera in rejoinders conceded that the county government was facing challenges, which they are addressing, blaming the leaders for blowing the issue out of proportion.

Leaders who vilified the governor included Principal Assistant Secretary in the Executive Office of the President Arthur Osiya, Teso North MP Oku Kaunya, and Chairman Lake Victoria North Water Services Authority John Imoite.

Among the issues the leaders raised included the stalled Kakapel cultural centre despite the county government allocating 10 million to the project.

Other issues raised include; skewed employment of members from the Iteso community, alleged demotions of members from the Iteso community, shortage of drugs in hospitals, and stalled development projects.

Governor Dr. Otuoma said he had heard sentiments raised by Teso leaders, noting that his administration will address them, citing poverty, health, water, and education as the main contributors of problems bedeviling the county.

He concurred with sentiments raised by his Deputy that cartels were major contributors to the shortage of drugs in health institutions in the county promising to take drastic action on culprits behind any corruption scandle.

The Governor disagreed with Teso North MP Oku Kaunya that he was opposed to the creation of Teso County, noting that having a second county would increase resource allocation and job opportunities.

" I am in full support of the Teso region having autonomy as a county. What is important is having unity, " he said, noting that he was only opposed to leaders who were asserting that he was profiling a community, telling them to stop witch-hunting.

" My government is committed to making Busia a business hub for East and Central Africa. We need to build our county instead of engaging in empty rhetoric," he said.

The Governor said his government has allocated Sh.3 million in each of the 35 wards to go towards the purchase of drugs for dispensaries and health centres under the supervision of Members of the County Assembly.

He said to address the issue of poverty, his government has empowered community health providers with equipment to help in the fight against malaria and other ailments at community levels.

" To help in the fight against poverty, my government has employed 400 Health extension officers with 10 distributed to each ward. We have also posted Cooperative officers in every ward," he said, adding that they had launched ward-based revitalization program that is geared towards making farmers plant in time.

Deputy Governor Arthur Odera said issues raised by MCAs and the MP were true, especially on drug shortage and dilapidated roads, promising to team up with the Governor to correct the anomaly.

" There are cartels who are a bottleneck in our endeavour to improve service delivery. We shall deal with them accordingly," he said, promising to solve drug shortage in hospitals within one year and to bring systems, which are currently not working into place.

Iteso Cultural leader Emormor Paul Sande Emolot thanked the Governor for accepting the views of Teso leaders, although regretting that it was in bad taste to use the occasion to discuss political matters instead of culture.

The Iteso King challenged Teso leaders to seek audience with the Governor on matters development instead of vilifying him in public, telling them to give the county boss time to serve residents.

" For the Iteso community to capture any county or national seat, they need to bury the hatchet and come to a round table and agree on which seat each of them wants instead of campaigning for one," he said.

Emolot expressed happiness that this year's festival was unique in the sense that most speakers used ateso language in their address, unlike previous festivals, urging them to cascade the same to the youth.

Iteso Cultural Union Deputy Prime Minister Fredrick Adungo said the first anniversary of Emormor Papa Iteso Paul Sande Emolot since taking over the throne from the late Augustine Osuban will be held in Kenya in 2024.

The annual cultural festival was also attended by Roots party leader George Wajackoyah who arrived in the company of Busia Governor Dr Paul Otuoma.

Others were Deputy Speaker Ronald Ochalu and Members of the County Assembly Joseph Eseme ( Angurai South), Isaac Wamalwa (Angurai North), Gardy Jakaa ( Bukhayo North/Walatsi), Bonface Mamai (Malaba South) and Patrick Omanyala ( Malaba North).

Courtesy; KNA