Government to support deceased officials children- Lokodo

State minister for Tourism Godfrey Kiwanda (left), State minister for Ethics and Integrity, Fr Simon Lokodo (centre) dance during the launch of Karamoja, Kaabong, Abim and Kotido Tourism and Conservation Initiatives in Kidepo Valley National Park last Saturday. PHOTO BY STEPHEN WANDERA

Kaabong- Children of ailing or deceased government officials will be taken care of by the government should the various departments and agencies implement a directive by President Museveni, the State minister for Ethics and Integrity has revealed.

Fr Simon Lokodo said this will also apply to those [children] of Members of Parliament (MPs) though it is still unclear if the Parliamentary Service Commission, which takes care of the welfare of legislators, will go by the President’s directive.

Fr Lokodo, during a Cabinet meeting on March 14, said the President directed that the children of deceased senior government officials and MPs be taken care of by the State.

“He [President Museveni] said the children should not be left to suffer as if their parents were not useful to government,” Fr Lokodo said.

Speaking on March 25 in Kotido District during the launch of the Karamoja, Kaabong, Abim and Kotido Tourism and Conservation Initiatives, Fr Lokodo said the children of slain Assistant Inspector General of Police, Andrew Felix Kaweesi, who was shot dead a week ago, would be the first to benefit from the executive order.

“If it is an MP, Parliament should take care. If it is a police officer, the police should take care and if it is a Uganda People’s Defence Force officer, the army should be in-charge,” Fr Lokodo said.
According to Fr Lokodo, government support will be towards health and education needs of the children.

Tourism event
The executive director Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), Mr Andrew Seguya, who organised the event at the Kidepo National Park, said the new initiatives are aimed at promoting tourism in Karamoja sub-region.
Mr Seguya urged residents to participate in community tourism and also promised support from UWA.

He promised more jobs to the residents in the park and pledged to address complaints of the alleged harassment of suspected poachers.

The State minister for Tourism, Mr Godfrey Kiwanda, who represented Vice President Edward Ssekandi pledged to promote Karamoja as the leading tourists’ destination in Uganda.

“As a country we receive about 1.5 million tourists annually but we are targeting four million tourists by 2020. The majority of these tourists must come to Karamoja,” Mr Kiwanda said.

He added: “Today (Saturday) will be celebrated as a ‘Kidepo Day’ every year. You will enter the park free of charge and enjoy the natural resources. I will also get a shop in Kampala to sell your crafts.”

Appeal
The Karenge Sub-country chairman, Mr Peter Obachi, urged government to jointly manage wildlife with South Sudan.

“Many of our animals that cross to South Sudan have been killed and eaten. Government should find means of protecting wildlife that cross the border. If this is not addressed, I am afraid our animals will all be eaten and tourism in this area that the community relies on will collapse,” he said.

Deceased MPs

The 10th Parliament has so far lost two legislators. Toroma counstituency MP, Cyrus Amodoi who perished in a road accident at Kitogoma along Jinja Highway and Moroto District Woman Member of Parliament, Logiel Annie who died in Denmark.