Related Articles
BY RICHARD DRASIMAKU
ARUA: Saturday, 11 October 2025
It was a parade of colours as children from private primary schools and secondary schools in Arua district brightened the Independence Day spirit at Vurra sub county headquarters where the celebrations were held.
Joined by jolly market vendors, the parade that lasted for about three hours brushed aside the gloom hanging over the education sector due to the strike by teachers albeit momentarily.
Officials however noted that the turnup would have been bigger had all the primary schools participated the way they used to do in the past years.
This was the 63rd independence anniversary of Uganda and government officials used it to emphasize socio-economic transformation with emphasis on agriculture commercialisation and improvement of household incomes.
The event was presided over by the Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Lillian Paparu, who said the government has a plan to give tractors to organised farmers’ groups to boost production in the district.
“Vurra used to be the food basket of West Nile, but now you sell land, you rent out your garden and you sell all your produce without saving any returns from the sales; let us come out of that practice,” she advised.
Glancing on the teachers’ industrial action, Paparu said no one is happy about the stand off with the government but expressed optimism that a solution will soon be found.
Gore Goffin, the Resident district commissioner, weighed in, calling on the people to ensure that they are enrolled into at least one of the government’s programs aimed at nipping poverty in the bud.
He however cautioned that those who get the money and waste it instead of investing will be left behind in the transformation journey.
“If you got for example the sh1m parish development model money and you wasted it, know that we are leaving you behind because you will not get another one,” he said.
These were some of the catchy speeches that gave way to the rocking celebrations that shifted from the boma grounds to the street through Oviconi town board.
