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BY RICHARD DRASIMAKU
ARUA: TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2025
The era of saying that youths do not vote is over, fired up youths of Arua Central Division have said, vowing active participation in the fourth coming polls for the National Resistance Movement primary elections to support continuity of leadership.
It was a consistent message first passed by Bashir Adaku, the youth chairman of Ozua Cell and later by other leaders of youth groups in Kebir, Ombizevua, Enyau and Kirab, Jacinto and Otrakutra cells all in Kenya Ward, one of the most populous wards in Arua Central division.
“We shall vote for you come July 17, 2025, they assured Hon Jackson Atima,” in front of a mammoth crowds, drawing deafening rounds of applause.
This was day two of campaigns by the incumbent Member of Parliament for Arua Central Division who is also the regional whit for the National Resistance Movement and coordinator for the Patriotic League of Uganda, a pressure group aligned with the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Adaku said they have high confidence in the leadership provided by Atima but requested for seats and shelter for their bodaboda (motorcycle transport) stage and T-shirts for their football team.
Other youth leaders asked for different things ranging from car washing jets, soap making machines, public address system among others.
The declaration from the youths drew commendation from Ahmed Miria, the campaign taskforce chairman for Jackson Atima who said that some people are going to dodge voting because they have been floating from one candidate to another.
The primary election is y lining behind the candidate or his or her agent or the candidates poster.
Atima if wadeing off challenge from radiologist Ronald Debo and Godfrey Obiga, another long time NRM cadre.
“When people come for your rally in such big numbers, it is a sign that they love you,” an all smiles Atima responded.
“As you know I do not segregate between tribes or religion,” he said in front of the roaring crowd that is predominantly composed of Moslems.
Atima has claimed Kenya Ward as his home ground, saying that the residents there gave him the biggest votes by percentage in the elections that took him to the 11th parliament of Uganda.
There are six Wards in the Arua central Division – Pangisa, Tanganyika, Bazaa, Awindiri, Mvara and then Kenya ward.
The MP said after four eventful years, he has come to give public accountability and seek the voters blessing for another term.
He reiterated that of all the promises that he made to the voters, only one is half accomplished, that of the youths skilling center and this is because his attention has been drown towards fulfilling the other pledges, especially to the religious entities.
These are the sh170m community costa bus for Arua central Division, sh40 million for a mosque for the Kibuli faction in Arua, sh40m for construction of Irishad Mosques under the Uganda Moslem supreme council, sh30m for the construction of a catholic church in Ojulua cell plus sh15m to foot the cost of organizing the fundraiser and sh36m for St Phillips church of Uganda.
Atima said for the youth skilling center, he purchased a building, laid a slab for extension of the training wing for which the office of the Prime Minister has given 50 iron sheets.
What is remaining to operationalize the youth center is equipment for training which will top the priority of things for the next term when re-elected.
To address the plight of market vendors, Atima said he worked with the city council to gazette, Owino apparels market, Lobidra market, Kebir market and a fish market for fish from, Juba, South Sudan.
He informed the people that he has secured 150 iron sheets from the OPM to roof the Owino apparels market and Lobidra would be next.
“Our abattoir will not go anywhere as long as I am the MP because that abattoir is providing jobs for our people. We shall look for ways to renovate the facility and make it more modern,” said to the delight of those whose livelihood depends on the abattoir.
