By Peter Ssebulime
Lt. Col. (Rtd) Dr Bright Rwamirama, the State Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs, urged Eastern Region veterans to work together to fight poverty and generate income among themselves to support their homes.
He made the call on Thursday during the Veterans’ meeting in Tororo District, which was aimed at updating veterans about what is being done by government to address their current challenges.
While officiating at the launch of Agururu Technical School for skilling widows, orphans and veterans in Agururu B Village, in Tororo Municipality, Tororo District, the minister encouraged veterans and widows to continue working together in groups, which he said would give them an upper hand in benefiting from government programs.
The Hon Minister urged the beneficiaries of the training school to take advantage of the opportunity availed by the government.
He said that “Resources from government are availed to support well organized veteran groups and SACCOS. What has lagged most people behind is lack of skills. So, this skilling center is not for veterans alone; it’s for all of you and everybody who wants to acquire skills.”
The Minister donated 5 sowing machines towards the institution and made a cash contribution of Shs2m to Tororo District SACCO.
He also visited 11 fish ponds under a government funded project for widows and pledged to fence the whole area in order to secure the project from thieves and wild animals.
During the same tour, the minister encouraged Busia District Veterans to get organized and benefit from the district SACCO.
“I urge you to select able and competent leaders to uplift you in terms of development,” Rwamirama noted.
The minister added that the Veterans SACCO should include all reservists and widows in order to fight poverty. At the end of the three-day tour in Eastern Region, the minister concluded with Bugiri District Veterans, who he met at Bugiri District Town hall.
He asked the veterans to be organized and benefit from government programmes and to become exemplary within their communities by working together to achieve development.
Rwamirama later donated seed capital of Shs2m towards Bugiri District Veterans SACCO.
