The appointment of Jessica Rose Alupo Epel as the vice president has generated a lot of excitement in Teso sub-region, where she hails from. Several people in the region took to social media on Tuesday evening to express their gratitude to the president, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni shortly after the list of the appointees went public.
Alupo is among the eight ministers from Teso sub-region named by President Yoweri Museveni on the new cabinet. The others are Jeje Odongo named Minister of Foreign Affairs after serving as Internal Affairs Minister for long, Musa Ecweru, also taken to another docket as State Minister for Works after serving as State Minister for Disaster Preparedness for a long time, Peter Ogwang, formerly State Minister for ICT and now State Minister in charge Economic Monitoring and Hellen Adoa, who has retained her docket as State Minister for Fisheries.
The others are the newly elected Kumi County MP, Sidronius Okaasai Opolot who was named State Minister for Energy, Dr. Ongalo Obote who replaces Agnes Jaff Akiror Egunyu as State Minister in charge Teso Affairs and Hellen Asamo, State Minister in charge of Disability Affairs. This is the first time Teso is getting eight ministerial positions in the current government.
The last cabinet had five ministers from Teso. Capt. John Emily Otekat, the former Serere County MP and now chairman Board of Directors Uganda Air Cargo, says that the region voted wisely to deserve more ministerial positions. “It means that the people of Teso have voted very wisely this time round and H.E. the President has rewarded Teso for voting NRM. To God be the Glory”, he said in a text.
He shares his views with Grace Akello, Uganda’s Ambassador to New Delhi. Akello says it is big recognition to the region.
Geoffrey Omolo, the Katakwi District LC V Chairperson says the new appointments indicate more trust in the region. “I want to thank President Museveni for acknowledging the support Teso gave him in the last election. It shows confidence to the region and proof of our capabilities to serve the country”, he said.
According to Omolo, the news of Alupo’s appointment as the Vice President excited residents who poured to the streets in Katakwi town to celebrate. He also revealed that he had a sleepless night after receiving the news as people called to inquire and celebrate the good news.
All local radio stations in the region offered early hours in the morning to listeners to express their views about the new appointments. Whereas the majority was excited with the appointments, some expressed reservations on whether the new appointments will improve the livelihoods of Teso.
Jeje, a resident of Serere asked the new ministers to focus on service delivery for all Ugandans.
Alupo, while talking on a local radio station in Soroti Wednesday morning said she is grateful for the trust President Museveni has bestowed on her and other colleagues to serve in various capacities. “I thank the people who supported and trusted in me throughout our campaigns to this day. We glorify God. The president knows our needs but it’s also true that Teso voted wisely”, she said.
