By Nathan Eyagu 

NGORA District- Ngora County Member of Parliament, Juliet Achayo Lodou, has reaffirmed her unwavering commitment to fighting poverty and uplifting the livelihoods of her constituents through a range of development projects and direct support initiatives.

From empowering savings groups and supporting persons with disabilities to improving infrastructure and providing relief assistance, her efforts have brought transformative change to the people of Ngora.  

One of the key pillars of Achayo’s poverty-fighting strategy is strengthening community savings groups. Over the past years, she has supported 214 savings groups, offering financial assistance and livestock such as pigs and sheep, which has enabled locals to invest in income-generating activities and improve their financial well-being.

Additionally, she has financially supported 48 savings groups in Ngora Town Council with a total of UGX 19.2 million, emphasizing the role of these groups in fostering financial independence and resilience.  

Speaking about her efforts, Hon. Achayo emphasized the importance of collective action in the fight against poverty, urging residents to take advantage of the available support. She reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring that no one in Ngora is left behind, adding that real change happens when communities work together and support one another in economic activities.  

Beyond financial empowerment, Hon. Achayo has prioritized access to clean water recognizing it as a fundamental right. She has overseen the repair of over 100 boreholes in various villages, ensuring that thousands of residents now have safe drinking water.

Infrastructure development has also been a major focus, with the MP providing fuel for the maintenance of a 4.7-km stretch along the Ngora - Aciisa Road, improving connectivity and easing transportation for farmers and traders.  

Community welfare remains central to her leadership, with significant support extended to burial groups and welfare initiatives. She has contributed sauce pans to 15 clans and burial associations and financially assisted 455 burials within and outside Ngora, spending UGX 45.5 million.

Last year, she contributed UGX 40 million towards 444 burials. She has also facilitated the repatriation of a young woman’s body from Saudi Arabia, ensuring her family could give her a proper burial.  

To combat food insecurity,Hon. Achayo has distributed tons of maize flour to vulnerable communities. In April 2023, she distributed five tons of maize to villages such as Tilling Gawa, Omoo, Ojogol, Kodike Kapujan, Pokor, and Agurur, and later provided 1.5 tons of maize to Moruirion, Katekwa, Okorom, and Kalengo.

Her efforts in supporting religious institutions have also been notable, with financial contributions towards the construction of churches, roofing of places of worship, and assisting church women in purchasing traditional attire.  

Hon. Achayo has been at the forefront of supporting persons with disabilities, ensuring they lead dignified and independent lives. In February 2023, she distributed 30 wheelchairs to PWDs across Ngora County, and to date, she has supported 215 persons with disabilities with both tricycles and wheelchairs.  

Recognizing the role of sports in youth engagement and community building, Achayo has supported over 60 football teams, donating footballs, volleyballs, and uniforms to seven clubs. She believes that sports not only keep young people active but also promote unity and talent development.  

Hon. Achayo’s initiatives align with Uganda’s broader poverty eradication programs, such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), which channels funds directly to grassroots communities, and the Emyooga Program, which provides financial support to various SACCOs.

With Uganda’s national poverty rate at 20.3%, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), Achayo is urging Ngora residents to actively participate in government economic empowerment programs. She has encouraged the people of Ngora to seize opportunities presented by government programs, work hard, and support one another to achieve sustainable development.  

She remains firm in her belief that development is a collective effort and has called upon her constituents to unite in the fight against poverty.

She emphasized that no leader can do this alone and urged residents to take advantage of the available resources, work together, and move from dependence to self-reliance. Her multi-sectoral approach to poverty reduction continues to positively impact thousands of lives, offering a brighter future for Ngora County.