Tororo, Uganda | ENTEBBENEWS.NET | Founder member of the Jopadhola Community Association (TJC), Lazarrus Oketch, has declared that he and other youth leaders have put aside their political differences and committed to working together for the development of Padhola sub-region and the greater Tororo.
Oketch made the remarks shortly after leading a delegation early this week to congratulate new Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Markson Oboth. Oboth Oboth as he is popularly known, is the first speaker from Tororo district.
“Myself and other dignified Jopadhola visited the Speaker of Parliament to congratulate him upon his election,” Oketch said. “We discussed widely the issues that concern Padhola and their possible solutions. Reconciliation was key as we put away our differences and agreed to work for greater Padhola. Together, we committed to work for the good of our constituency, district, and Padhola.”
The meeting, which brought together the two leaders from Nabuyoga town council in Tororo district, marked a turning point in a political rivalry that has spanned many years. Both Oketch and Speaker Oboth hail from Nabuyoga, now Nabuyoga town council, and have previously battled for the area MP seat. Their reconciliation is being seen as a major breakthrough for the area.
“For me as an elder, Minister of Tieng Adhola and worker leader, I am excited about this development,” said Usher Owere, a Minister of Tieng Adhola and veteran workers’ leader, after news of the meeting broke.
“The unity of our leaders will lift our areas—Budama Central, Padhola, Bukedi Sub-region—to another level. Our main agenda now is to get our people out of poverty and focus on production.”
Lazarrus Oketch was joined at the meeting by founder members of the TJC, plus his brother, Emmanuel Osuna—who served as LC5 Chairman for two terms and is now Kwar Nono—and it is said he played a key role in facilitating the reconciliation. Osuna has been a long-time strong supporter of Speaker Oboth and is believed to have been instrumental in bringing the two leaders together.
Speaker Oboth, who also serves as the West Budama Central Member of Parliament, has previously commended his community for embracing dialogue over confrontation in resolving political contests. He has consistently advocated for harmony among candidates, saying it strengthens local democratic participation.
TJC’s role in driving development
The reconciliation comes at a time when leaders in the region are rallying residents to focus on economic transformation and poverty eradication, with production identified as the key priority for the sub-region’s development.
Oketch is a founder member of TJC association that for the past decade has been at the forefront of championing development initiatives for the Jopadhola people. The TJC officials included Jerome George Osuna , Asuman Odaka and Peter Obonyo Opata.
Under their leadership, TJC has spearheaded a comprehensive 10-point development programme aimed at positioning the Jopadhola for the 21st century. They have held several Jopadhola Community Conferences at Makerere University.
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