By Emmanuel Okiria
Kapelebyong District Woman Member of Parliament, Jacinta Atuto, has vowed to prioritize education and bridge the gaps left by past insurgencies in the district.
During an event at Acowa Primary School, Atuto awarded the top-performing Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) pupils in the district, offering them prizes to motivate others to strive for academic excellence.
At the ceremony, Atuto awarded division one pupils with gifts including 4-inch mattresses, buckets, Omo detergent, white star soap, exercise books, pens, and a sum of UGX 100,000 as pocket money.
She emphasized the importance of education in transforming the future of the district, which has long suffered from challenges like inadequate infrastructure due to the scars left by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency and Karamojong attacks.
“Kapelebyong has been left behind in education due to these challenges, but with the resumption of peace and honor thanks to the efforts of the UPDF under the leadership of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, we are now seeing progress,” Atuto said.
Her gesture of awarding the top-performing students was intended to inspire others to work harder, despite the district’s past difficulties.
“The government is doing its part in improving school infrastructure, but we must also put in the effort to compete with other districts in the region and the entire country. I’m proud of our district’s recent academic improvements, and although we are still a young district, we have outperformed several others in Teso,” she added.
Atuto also called for unity, hard work, and peace in the district as key elements to spur further development.
She urged parents to take an active role in their children’s education, encouraging them to provide scholastic materials and ensure their children return to school after breaks.
“We must take responsibility for our children’s future, or the blame will fall on us as leaders,” she stated.
Further demonstrating her commitment to education, Atuto offered full school bursaries to three pupils, including a Primary Seven pupil with a disability, Aleo Brenda.
The bursaries aim to ensure that these students can continue their studies, regardless of financial constraints.
In addition, Atuto thanked the Ugandan government for restoring peace in Kapelebyong, acknowledging the fulfillment of promises made in 2016, such as compensating bomb victims in Alito and renovating Kapelebyong Primary School.
In her closing remarks, Atuto appealed to voters to re-elect her in the 2026 elections so she can continue to implement her educational initiatives and other development projects in the district.
Parents, teachers, and pupils all expressed their gratitude for Atuto’s generous support and commitment to Kapelebyong’s educational growth.
The district’s educators praised her efforts to recognize their hard work, while parents appreciated her inclusive approach to supporting all students without discrimination.
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