Summary:
- VP Alupo presented a brand-new motorcycle to Fustino Okiror, the LC1 chairperson of the Toroma Town Council’s Senior Quarter Cell, who has served under the NRM administration for 38 years.
KATAKWI: Her Excellency, Vice President (Rtd) Maj. Jessica Rose Alupo, has encouraged boda-boda riders in the Teso sub-region to explore commercial agriculture as a supplementary income source alongside their work in the motorcycle transport sector.
VP Alupo made this call during a loan disbursement event for the Toroma County boda boda SACCO, supported by the Microfinance Support Centre as part of the presidential initiative to promote wealth creation and job development under the Emyooga program.
She emphasized that boda-boda riders should take advantage of available land to engage in productive farming, which would provide a steady income alongside their motorcycle business.
She further advised them against selling land to purchase motorcycles but rather urged them to invest in commercial agriculture as a means to combat household poverty.
In addition to her advice, VP Alupo presented a brand-new motorcycle to Fustino Okiror, the LC1 chairperson of the Toroma Town Council’s Senior Quarter Cell, who has served under the NRM administration for 38 years.
Vincent Xavier Okwii, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner for Katakwi, also addressed the gathering, urging boda-boda riders to leverage the sector’s potential to drive the country’s economic growth, ultimately leading to socio-economic transformation.
Joseph Baraza, the regional manager for the Central Region, representing the head of the Emyooga Secretariat, highlighted that the Microfinance Support Centre had distributed four motorcycles, valued at 20 million shillings, to the Toroma County boda boda SACCO in Katakwi District.
Geoffrey Omolo, the LC5 Chairperson for Katakwi District, encouraged the boda-boda riders to adopt a culture of saving a portion of their daily earnings.
He challenged them to form organized saving groups at their boda boda stages, which could provide loans at low-interest rates.
However, Simon Epuwa, the Chairperson of the Toroma County boda boda SACCO, voiced concerns over the rise in motorbike thefts, urging the government to take action against the robbers targeting boda-boda operators.
