Catechists from the Katakwi Catholic Deanery have called on the Vice President of Uganda, Her Excellency Jessica Alupo, to support them with income-generating projects to improve their livelihoods.
The appeal was made during a special meeting organized by the Catholic faithful, held at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Katakwi District.
The gathering brought together priests, catechists, parish council chairpersons, and hundreds of Catholic believers drawn from the seven parishes under the Katakwi Catholic Deanery.
It offered a unique opportunity for the community to engage directly with the Vice President on issues affecting their spiritual mission and socioeconomic well-being.
Joseph Okiror, who spoke on behalf of the catechists, explained that many catechists serve the church with dedication but struggle to meet basic needs due to limited income.
He said the catechists need support to establish sustainable income-generating projects such as dairy farming and poultry keeping.
“With dairy farming and poultry projects, we can produce milk and other products for sale. This will help us generate income and also improve our nutrition and health,” Okiror said.
He further requested government support in providing iron sheets to improve their housing conditions, noting that many catechists live in substandard homes that do not reflect their important role in the spiritual development of their communities.
In addition to the catechists’ needs, John Michael Koluo, the representative of the parish council chairpersons, appealed to the Vice President to assist the church in renovating aging church structures and constructing new ones in underserved areas.
He cited St. Anne Usuk and St. Simon Magoro parishes among those that urgently require infrastructure improvements.
“Our churches are places of worship but also centers for community development and mobilization. We need support to renovate old structures and build new ones so that we can serve our people better,” Koluo emphasized.
Another key request presented to the Vice President was the need for support to strengthen the catechists’ Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs).
Okiror explained that well-capitalized SACCOs would enable catechists to access low-interest loans, empowering them to invest in small businesses and improve their families’ welfare.
“We want our SACCOs to be strong so that members can borrow at affordable rates and improve their livelihoods,” he added.
Rev. Fr. Patrick Achedu, parish priest of St. Anne Usuk Catholic Church, used the occasion to praise the government for fostering a peaceful environment that has enabled the church to carry out its spiritual mission and support community development.
He highlighted the collaborative relationship between the church and government, which he said has positively impacted people’s lives spiritually, economically, and morally.
“We appreciate the government’s efforts in maintaining peace and security. This has allowed us to spread the gospel freely and also encourage our faithful to participate in government development programs,” Fr. Achedu said.
However, Fr. Achedu did not hold back in criticizing what he described as malicious propaganda spread by some politicians in Katakwi and the greater Teso Sub-region against Vice President Alupo.
He described Alupo as a “God-chosen leader” who has consistently worked for the good of her people and urged those attacking her reputation to desist and seek forgiveness.
“Those spreading lies about the Vice President should repent. She is a leader chosen by God, and we must support her,” he said to applause from the congregation.
In her address to the faithful, Vice President Jessica Alupo expressed gratitude for the warm reception and acknowledged the critical role the Catholic Church and its catechists play in shaping communities spiritually and morally.
She encouraged them to take advantage of the prevailing peace and stability in the country to improve their economic standing.
“Uganda is peaceful and stable. This is the time for us to work hard, use the government’s development programs, and transform our lives,” Alupo urged.
She cited government initiatives such as the Parish Development Model and Emyooga as practical tools available to communities to boost household incomes.
Alupo encouraged the catechists and their SACCOs to actively participate in these programs to secure funding for their projects.
“The government is committed to supporting income-generating activities at the parish level. Please organize yourselves and make use of these opportunities,” she added.
Vice President Alupo also reaffirmed the government’s dedication to infrastructure development in the region.
She highlighted plans to tarmac key trade routes, improve market access roads, and expand electricity coverage to rural communities to spur local economic growth.
“We know that good roads, reliable markets, and access to electricity are critical for development. The government is working to deliver these so that our people can prosper,” she said.
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