By Emmanuel Olinga
Joy and applause erupted across Akoboi Sub County yesterday as Daniel Mulalu, an aspirant for the Ngariam County parliamentary seat, made an emotional pledge to sponsor the entire education journey of a 12-year-old orphaned girl from Alukucok Parish, offering her hope for a brighter future.
The beneficiary, Scovia Acakara, is a Primary Four pupil of Alukucok Primary School.
She is the daughter of a widow, Joyce Mary Atiang, who is currently bedridden at Katakwi General Hospital.
Acakara has faced immense hardship, having lost her father at an early age and now caring for her ailing mother while trying to stay in school.
During a community rally in Alukucok Parish, Acakara openly pleaded with leaders and well-wishers for help in continuing her education.
Her voice shook with emotion as she described her love for learning but admitted she saw no future without external support.
The gathering fell silent as she shared her struggles, her words highlighting the plight of many vulnerable children in rural Katakwi.
Daniel Mulalu responded immediately and decisively.
He pledged not only to pay her school fees but to take full responsibility for her welfare and education all the way to university level.
He moved many in the crowd to tears as he recounted his own childhood struggles.
“When I was nine, I depended on relatives and well-wishers to stay in school,” Mulalu said.
“I know what it means to cry for help. It breaks my heart to see a child begging for education. Scovia is now my responsibility. She is one of us.”
He vowed that Acakara would be treated as part of his family, promising to ensure her safety, schooling, and mentorship.
The crowd broke into cheers of gratitude and admiration, many chanting his name and praising what they saw as genuine, humane leadership.
Moses Imalingat, one of the residents of Akoboi, hailed Mulalu’s act as exemplary.
“He has shown us that leadership is about compassion. He is not waiting to be elected before helping people. He is leading by example and showing that the next generation matters,” Imalingat said.
Another resident, Yoweri Aboket, added that Mulalu’s move had proven he cared about developing Ngariam County.
“This is the kind of leadership we need, someone who thinks about our children, who is investing in their future. He is building and sharpening the next generation,” Aboket remarked.
Before his visit to Alukucok Parish, Mulalu addressed a large gathering in Lalei Parish, where he outlined his education-focused campaign vision.
He said that if elected, he would turn Ngariam into a benchmark for educational development.
“Education is the foundation for lasting change. I am not coming here to promise you miracles. I am telling you I will work with you to build our schools, support feeding programs, and open mini-boarding sections for children who walk long distances,” Mulalu explained.
He also promised to facilitate examiner access to rural schools and provide learning materials to raise academic performance.
Mulalu argued that no child in Ngariam should drop out due to hunger or lack of school fees under his watch.
In addition to education, Mulalu highlighted his commitment to youth employment.
He said he had already connected over four youths in Akoboi to jobs and vowed to expand these networks if elected.
“We cannot educate our children and then abandon them. Once they finish school, they need jobs. Leadership is about opening doors. I will use my networks to ensure our educated youth get jobs, here and beyond,” he said.
His day in Akoboi Sub County ended on a jubilant note.
As he arrived in Ogongora, the crowd gave him what was described as a “Hero’s Welcome with Ekiriakira,” a local cultural show of respect and affection.
Drums pounded, people danced, and elders blessed him with prayers for success.
“As we arrived in Akoboi, the scene was nothing short of powerful,” Mulalu reflected later.
“The people gathered in overwhelming numbers, young and old, full of energy and hope. They didn’t just welcome us; they embraced us with open hearts and belief in a new direction.”
He described the reception as proof that the people of Ngariam were tired of empty promises and ready for change.
“We didn’t need to convince anyone. Their turnout spoke louder than words. Ngariam is ready for change, and they are with us,” he said, closing his speech with the rallying cry: “Kazi ni kazi!”
Local observers say Mulalu’s spontaneous scholarship pledge may prove a defining moment in the heated Ngariam County campaigns.
While many candidates talk about development, few take concrete, personal action as he did on Monday.
His supporters argue this act demonstrates not just political ambition, but a genuine commitment to uplifting the most vulnerable.
As the election season heats up, many will watch to see if such gestures translate into votes, and if other candidates will follow suit by investing in the people they seek to lead.
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