By Alfred Opio
PALLISA — The Member of Parliament for Kibale County in Pallisa District, Constantine Okwi, has pledged to spearhead massive development initiatives aimed at transforming the area and recovering what he described as “10 years of wasted development opportunities.”
Speaking during a community engagement meeting with residents, Okwi said Kibale County has for years lagged behind in service delivery, infrastructure development, and poverty reduction due to poor leadership and unfulfilled promises.
The legislator assured residents that his leadership would focus on restoring hope and accelerating socio-economic transformation across the county.
“Kibale has lost many years of development opportunities, but we are determined to recover and move forward,” Okwi said.
He noted that despite the area having fertile land and hardworking residents, many families continue to struggle with poverty because previous interventions were not effectively implemented.
According to the MP, the next few years will focus on practical development programs aimed at improving household incomes and livelihoods.
Top on his agenda, Okwi said, will be improving road infrastructure to ease transportation and market access for farmers and traders.
“Poor roads have continued to affect business activities and limit access to schools, health facilities, and markets. We must improve our road network,” he emphasized.
The legislator also pledged to strengthen education services across Kibale County by lobbying for better school infrastructure, improved staffing levels, and increased support for government-aided schools.
He stressed that education remains one of the most effective tools for fighting poverty and empowering young people.
“Education is the foundation of development. We must ensure our children study in better conditions and receive quality education,” Okwi noted.
On healthcare, the MP promised to work closely with relevant ministries and government agencies to improve health services within the county.
He acknowledged the challenges faced by residents who travel long distances in search of treatment due to inadequate health facilities and shortages of medical personnel.
“We need our health centers to have enough drugs, equipment, and health workers so that our people can access proper treatment near their homes,” he said.
The legislator further encouraged residents to embrace commercial agriculture and participate actively in government wealth creation programs.
According to Okwi, Kibale County has the potential to become one of the leading agricultural areas in Pallisa District if farmers are supported with improved seeds, extension services, and reliable markets.
“We have fertile land and hardworking people. If we modernize agriculture and support farmers properly, we can greatly reduce poverty,” he explained.
He also appealed to the youth to avoid alcoholism, gambling, and other unproductive behaviors that hinder development.
Instead, Okwi encouraged young people to engage in productive economic activities and take advantage of government empowerment programs.
Women were equally urged to form groups and participate in income-generating initiatives aimed at improving household livelihoods.
Residents who attended the meeting welcomed the MP’s commitments and expressed optimism that Kibale County could witness meaningful transformation if the promised projects are implemented effectively.
However, some community members cautioned leaders against making political promises without action, noting that many pledges made by previous leaders had never been fulfilled.
“We want to see real action and development projects on the ground, not just promises,” one resident remarked.
Leaders in the area now hope that stronger cooperation between the community, local leaders, and government agencies will help drive development and improve living conditions across Kibale County.
