Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for Orungo County, Gen. Abubaker Jeje Odongo, has officially clarified his independent candidature for Orungo constituency in the forthcoming elections, citing his absence during the NRM primaries due to official duties abroad.
Speaking during a media engagement, Gen. Jeje Odongo explained that his foreign assignments in China, Turkey, and Russia coincided with the period of the NRM party primaries, preventing his participation.
“By the time NRM was conducting primaries, I was representing Uganda abroad. When I returned, the process was already concluded, and I chose to remain calm to avoid creating conflicting loyalties within the party,” he stated.
The veteran politician reaffirmed his loyalty to the NRM and emphasized that his independent candidature is not intended to disrupt the party’s unity but to fulfill his remaining development commitments to the people of Orungo.
“This is my last time contesting as MP for Orungo. I only want to complete the projects I started and leave my people more developed and self-reliant,” he said.
Gen. Odongo also unveiled a new community initiative dubbed “Bye-Bye Aanya Orungo,” aimed at improving household welfare through housing and livelihood projects.
Under this program, every family that establishes a house foundation structure will receive 15 iron sheets to roof their homes.
Additionally, he reintroduced his motorcycle empowerment program where youth can acquire motorcycles by paying UGX 50,000 monthly in affordable installments after a three-month grace period.
The minister highlighted his ongoing support in the education sector, including the installation of solar lights in schools, provision of computers to Orungo seed, Kochocwa Secondary School, and Morungatuny Seed School, and the purchase of a printer for exam materials.
In the health sector, he pledged to upgrade Orungo Health Centre III to IV, construct a ward block, and establish incinerators for medical waste management in all Health Centre IIIs.
Gen. Odongo emphasized his plan to ensure peace, unity, and security in Orungo, urging residents to put aside divisions from the NRM primaries.
He also promised to protect church and community lands, citing concerns raised by Catholic Church leaders in Akeriau Sub-county.
To transform household incomes, Gen. Odongo outlined a five-year goal for every home in Orungo to earn at least UGX 5 million annually through large-scale agriculture and value addition.
He announced a partnership with PELUM Uganda, an NGO promoting cashew nut farming, which will supply seedlings and buy produce at UGX 3,000–5,000 per kilogram.
He further encouraged diversification into fish farming, beekeeping, poultry, and coffee production, and revealed the acquisition of a 4,000-egg capacity hatching machine to boost poultry farming.
Gen. Odongo also noted his contribution to community road works aimed at improving accessibility within the constituency.
Among the roads under construction include Abilkoku–Agora–Ocakai, Ojama–Acele–Odelel, Paradise–Oriebai–Abilat, Achanpi–Morucutu–Ilelu–Ojama–Onyamguro, Ilelu–Ariamet, and Cornerstone–Aola.
He pledged to install culverts on rain-damaged bridges to ease transportation.
Concluding his address, Gen. Jeje Odongo reiterated his dedication to ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity in Orungo County.
“I want to see my people united, their properties protected, and every family empowered. My mission is to leave behind a peaceful and productive Orungo,” he said.
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