The race for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag in Serere District has taken an intriguing turn, with Minister of State for Fisheries, Hon. Hellen Adoa, attracting an unexpected wave of defectors from the rival camp led by Acom Esther, popularly known as “Apadai.”
In a symbolic and dramatic move during a campaign rally in Bugondo Sub-county this week, dozens of youth formerly allied with Apadai’s camp burned their signature “catapults”, the local term for the group’s defiant youth supporters, signaling a decisive break with their old allegiance.
Standing before a large crowd, the defecting youth leaders expressed regret for their earlier choice, apologizing for what they called being “deceived by small gifts and drinks.”
“We were just deceived by small gifts and drinks,” one of the youths declared in an emotional moment on the microphone. “But now we’ve seen the truth and we are ready to rally behind Hon. Adoa, no matter what.”
The defection is being seen as a major boost for Minister Adoa’s campaign as the NRM primaries approach.
While Serere has long been a competitive political battleground with rival camps often relying on youth mobilizers for grassroots energy, this exodus suggests a shift in momentum.
Minister Adoa welcomed the gesture with characteristic humility, urging the youth to channel their energy away from politicking and instead focus on productive ventures that can transform their lives and communities.
“I am grateful you have seen the light,” she told the defectors. “But let this not end here. Let us work together for real development. The youth are the strength of Serere, and it’s time to invest in your future.”
The Minister, who also serves as the State Minister for Fisheries in the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, has been anchoring her re-election bid on a message of continuity, unity, and transformative economic opportunities.
She used the Bugondo event to lay out her plans for the next term if re-elected, stressing that she would prioritize following up on already-launched government programs and ensuring that Serere District fully benefits from national development initiatives.
“My second issue is to follow up on what we are putting on the table. As Minister of Agriculture, we have climate-smart agriculture, which has a lot of money,” she explained.
“We are talking about fattening animals, dairy, irrigation, mechanization, and value addition to so many products that we are producing.”
She highlighted the Ministry’s current strategy of supporting groups with significant funds, up to UGX 80 million per group, and promised to make sure Serere’s youth and women’s groups would access and effectively use these resources.
Adoa further elaborated on the ambitious plans to uplift livestock production in Teso sub-region.
She pointed to the Serere Research Station project, which she described as a game-changing investment worth UGX 20 billion.
“This research station is not just for Serere, but for the whole Teso and Eastern region,” she said.
“We want to improve the breeds because for long, our cows look like goats. We need proper improved breeds for commercial farming, not just food for the household.”
She argued that transforming livestock production would have cascading benefits for household incomes, enabling families to educate their children and escape poverty.
Perhaps the most striking commitment was her pledge to modernize fish farming in Serere by tapping into the World Aquaculture Project that Uganda recently showcased at a global conference.
“Same with fisheries, I want to see fisheries go to another level,” she told the crowd. “We have just had the World Aquaculture Conference. That World Aquaculture Project will now be better implemented in Serere. It will decongest the lake and promote modern fish farming.”
By promoting aquaculture, Adoa hopes to offer an alternative to overfishing in Lake Kyoga and create employment opportunities for thousands of youth.
Minister Adoa also emphasized that her return to Parliament would ensure continuity and effective monitoring of government development projects.
“Sometimes, when you’re not on the seat, these projects die,” she warned. “I want that mandate so I’m able to follow up with those projects I already started, especially those for women at the village level and youth at the parish level.”
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There’s nothing those mps do other than corning people.
They aren’t servings the entire community but only there stomachs.
We only like 15%in the whole 5years.