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The Vice President Jessica Alupo has thanked President Museveni for the prevailing peace and security he ushered in the country that has enabled development, growth and social economic transformation throughout the Uganda. The provision of Peace, she said, was a deliberate effort of the NRM Government.
The Vice President said that because of women involvement in different spheres of the economy-as mothers, leaders, entrepreneurs and farmers, women are the biggest beneficiaries of peace and are achieving remarkable milestones.
The Vice President was speaking today at the celebrations to commemorate women’s day in Kiruhura. She said that because of his commitment to the development of Uganda, President Museveni as a person and NRM government in general has gained and sustained national support, especially as a result of the nation wide programs the President has implemented, from which women and girls have benefited enormously.
In her remarks, Alupo stressed the importance of keeping girls in school, saying
education is a very strong tool which society can use to liberate itself at all levels. She urged them to keep taking stock of the achievements and work together with the communities to strengthen and benefit from Government programs like the Universal Primary,Secondary and Tertiary Education.
She urged leaders to continue working towards empowering women and girl children while helping them to explore their full potential. “This is the right partnership between communities and the Government”, she said, adding that through different programs of economic empowerment, there are specific packages for women.The Vice President thanked women for taking advantage of those programs and encouraged them to support the Parish Development Model; a key flagship program,which she said is going to cause a paradigm shift of our country into a middle income status, especially since all enabling laws, policies, guidelines and regulations to implement it are in place. The Vice President instructed the leaders to disseminate the necessary information so that citizens can sufficiently acclamatise themselves with the program.
Responding to the earlier remarks made by leaders on social services delivery, the Vice President said Government had made it a policy that accessibility to health services is a must, noting that every subcounty must have a health centre 3, every county a health centre 4, a hospital in every district and a Refferal hospital in every region, in addition, Government will continue with rural electrification so that all schools and health facilities are connected to the national grid.
The Vice President also appealed to women in positions of responsibility to continue to mentor girls, saying President Museveni has already made strategic placements, like Ambassadors, Ministers, Commissioners, and said she too was a product of affirmative action, meaning that the policy and strategic intervention by the President has produced results. The Vice President implored women at all levels to continue making decisions that take care of the concerns of women and, be an inspiration to girl children as good role models”, she said.
Alupo thanked the MPs from Ankole for working together and for showing that unity is strength, adding that the whole of Uganda today is United because of the four principles of NRM ; Nationalism, Pan Africanism, socio economic transformation and democracy.
Alupo also rallied leaders to join her in a campaign launched by the first lady-Hon Janet Museveni to fight against defilement, early unplanned for pregnancies, early marriages, child labour, Child sacrifice, child trafficking and domestic violence because they distort the education cycle and healthy development of the girl child.
Vice President Alupo handed over 40m , support from H.E the President to the various women groups who are engaged in different enterprises and had uniquely displayed some of their products in the exhibition which the Vice President inspected.
The Woman MP Jovanice Rwenduru, a former Community Development Officer in Kiruhura recognized the efforts of the previous male district leadership in recruiting women into leadership positions. She too thanked the President for the free universal education that has enabled girls to study without limitations.
The Hon
Mary Mugyenyi, now EALA MP recounted her journey, when in 1996, she first made a Parliamentary attempt in Nyabushoshi county and she was rejected on grounds that she was a woman. “I was rejected, even by women, because I was a woman. I’m glad now that I see many women in leadership at different levels…”Mugyenyi said.
She thanked President Museveni for the exceptional and rare vision of empowering women when it seemed impossible.
The area MP, Wilson Kajwengye said the day was uniquely marked to recognize the power and value of women.
The Chairman LC 5 Dan Rutetebya thanked the President for the appointment of a Vice President who, he said, was seen to be extremely hardworking. He also thanked the President for all the efforts he took to control the spread of COVID-19.
At the function, all women educationists were honoured for their contribution to educating the girl child.
 *Vice President Alupo was gifted with a heifer, a gesture that is held in high regard in the Ankole tradition*
Esteeri Kokundeka, mother to President Museveni was recognized for supporting women and girls through education, against so many odds. A moment of silence was observed in her honour.
The minister of state for trade and Several MPs from EALA and other constituencies in greater Ankole region and Bunyoro and Kigezi regions as well as religious leaders from different Faith’s were present at the ceremony.