Emmah Okwii, one of the aspirants for Serere County Member of Parliament, has pledged to prioritise the improvement of education and health services in the district if elected in the forthcoming elections.
Addressing residents of Odokai Parish on Wednesday, Okwii outlined his vision for a better-served and more empowered Serere.
He promised to use his networks and lobbying skills to address longstanding challenges in the district’s health and education sectors.
“We cannot talk about development when our education and health systems are struggling,”
Okwii told a gathering of local leaders, youth, and elders. “I am standing here today to say that if you give me this mandate, I will work tirelessly to change this story.
A significant part of his address centred on the state of Serere Hospital, which he described as one of the district’s most urgent priorities.
“One, I’ve seen the health services from the time I was born,” Okwii said. “Serere Hospital has remained at Health Center IV level ever since. If I am given the mandate, with the partners and opportunity I have, this will be my chance to lobby the Minister of Health and government so that Serere Hospital is elevated to district hospital status.”
He explained that achieving this upgrade would unlock critical resources for the community.
“When it becomes a District Hospital, I’ll be able to lobby for more services, for the expertise of qualified nurses and doctors,” he said.
“I will also follow up with National Medical Stores to ensure we have enough drugs for our people.”
Okwii argued that better health services would not only save lives but also reduce the burden on families forced to seek costly care in other districts.
Beyond health, the aspirant also emphasised education as a cornerstone of his agenda.
He noted that while Serere has many schools, they continue to face challenges such as inadequate facilities, limited learning materials, and inconsistent supervision.
“We must make sure our children are getting quality education,” Okwii said. “We need to ensure our schools have enough teachers, books, and classrooms.”
He promised to lobby the Ministry of Education and development partners to invest in building and renovating schools across Serere County.
“We cannot accept a situation where children sit on the floor or study under trees,” he declared.
Okwii also said he would champion teacher motivation and supervision to improve results.
During the meeting, he outlined broader plans to improve service delivery by promoting accountability, listening to community needs, and building partnerships with NGOs and government agencies.
He highlighted his personal efforts so far to strengthen health records systems in local facilities.
“What Mr. Okwii has started in all the hospitals in Serere, we are trying to make sure that we have the books,” he said, referring to record-keeping improvements aimed at transparency and better planning.
He also called on local leaders and residents to work with him to identify the most pressing community needs.
“Leadership is not about shouting in Kampala. It is about coming home and working with your people,” he told the cheering crowd.
Okwii, who is building a reputation as a grassroots-focused candidate, promised to continue engaging communities across the county in the coming weeks.
“This is just the beginning,” he said. “Together we will make Serere better.”
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Uganda today needs young and vibrant leaders who should be able to drive this country to its destination. Am happy that my brother has jumped out his comfort zone to become uncomfortable just for the good our people. Kindly tackle the issue of domestic violence and child abuse that has been a standing barrier towards education development in the district. This has given rise to teenage pregnancy cases and increased level of school dropouts resulting to early marriages. TOGETHER WE STAND GOD BLESS YOU AND GRANT YOU SUCCESS IN THIS RACE YOU ARE IN. I LOVE MY BROTHER.