Museveni salutes minister Aber for defying the odds

President Yoweri Museveni has commended the recently appointed Minister of State for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Dr Lillian Aber, for proving that being disadvantaged at birth is not a disability.

Aber is also the Woman MP for Kitgum district.

She hails from a humble background and growing up, she faced a lot of hardships, especially in acquiring education. She almost gave up but thankfully, a good Samaritan came her way and helped to meet her fees expenses. 

“I want to congratulate my 'granddaughter' Lillian Aber for proving that being disadvantaged at birth is not a disability. Our children should not be surviving by luck like Lillian Aber, but I thank you for surviving," said Museveni.

"That is not the vision of the NRM. The NRM wants all children to survive through equal opportunities."

The President made the remarks on Saturday as the chief guest of minister Aber's homecoming and thanksgiving ceremony held at Kitgum Institute playground.

“Wherever you are, work hard and trust God. The NRM gives the opportunities and we do it deliberately,” said Museveni.

He reiterated his call to leaders to focus on helping and mobilising Ugandans to create wealth through the right enterprise selection with “ekibaro” (calculation).

According to the President, there is still a big gap when it comes to wealth creation, especially in rural areas.

“When I was coming here today, I could see development in the form of roads, buildings, hotels, etc. That is good, but that development is managed by some groups, not all people. 

"I want you to put the emphasis on the wealth creation of the people in rural areas."

Ugandans should embrace the government's poverty alleviation programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga, he said.

“In a parish, you could handle 100 homesteads in a year and remember after 24 months, the one who took the money could have paid back. It is not money for the government but for the parish SACCO. We are creating a parish bank for you and the interest is very small, only 10 percent after two years."

“Go to your parish and find out how many homesteads have received the money. We rejected the cheap politics of giving sh100,000 to each person. Instead, we give sh1 million to a homestead through PDM. 

"And if we see that the speed is not enough, we shall go back and discuss, then, increase to sh200 million each year," said the President.

"Therefore, the debate here should not be I did not receive but did somebody in your parish receive that money properly? This is what the MPs and other leaders should monitor, then we can judge whether we should put in more money or not.”

Museveni also re-emphasized his call for free education in all government schools.

He said a big number of children drop out of school due to some education stakeholders who insist on charging fees from children of poor Ugandans.

“Let the NRM ministers and backbenchers support all government programmes."

On the issue of elephants from Murchison Falls National Park attacking people in the communities of Kitgum, the President said he will direct the tourism minister to put up an electric fence to deal with the problem.

On the issue of limited slots in the presidential skilling hub programme, he advised that MPs should work with the government to ensure that the operational budget is increased so that the number of beneficiaries is increased.

“The better solution is for the MPs to work with me so that we increase the intake of beneficiaries. It is better than building new skilling hubs.”

The NRM secretary general, Richard Todwong, lauded President Museveni for bringing peace and stability in northern Uganda, saying it has created a conducive environment for the people to settle and improve their livelihoods through fighting poverty.

“Your Excellency, I thank you for mentoring, guiding and identifying young people and putting them in positions of leadership. We believe that in your hands, we are safe as a country, and we are focused on grooming more young leaders," he said.

"We thank you for appointing Hon. Lillian Aber, Hon. Nyamutoro and all other young leaders.”

The Minister of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Eng. Hilary Onek, thanked Museveni "for appointing our daughter Lillian Aber and I also thank you for retaining me".

"We shall work very closely, and I will try as much as possible to mentor her," he said.

Onek also commended the resident district commissioners (RDCs) in the region for monitoring and mobilizing masses. 

He added that the newly appointed assistant RDCs, two per district, will also help to intensify the operations of the Office of the RDC.

'Indebted to you'

On her part, minister Aber called it "a very special day". 

"I want to sincerely thank you because from the very first time as a young girl from the university, you guided, mentored and even appointed me to your office. Who am I? 

"I never knew that one day I will stand here as a minister," she said.

“I thank you for entrusting me with a ministerial position. I'm indebted to you, Your Excellency.”

Aber also thanked all those who contributed to her life journey.

“We shall preach the gospel of wealth creation and fight our enemy called poverty,” she pledged.

Foreign affairs state minister Henry Okello Oryem said he was very excited upon learning that Aber had been appointed minister and thanked President Museveni for doing so.

“We thank you, Your Excellency, for giving her this opportunity. The job of the minister is not easy. It has a lot of obstacles but I have no doubt that Lillian will perform."

Oryem also lauded the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) for pacifying the Acholi sub-region and further asked the President to add more manpower to the force so that they deal with the issue of the Karimojong warriors once and for all.

Kitgum Municipality MP Denis Onekalit Amere noted that the coming of the people of Kitgum together for Saturday's celebration was a manifestation that they are indeed happy for the appointment of Aber as minister.

“Your Excellency, I'm privileged to stand before you today after 13 years. The last time I welcomed you was in 2011 when I was the Guild President of Makerere University when you were launching the Kiira EV car," he said.

"As the people of Acholi, we wholeheartedly thank you for appointing one of our own as minister".

“We are very inspired by your being part of this celebration in honour of Hon. Lillian Aber whom you elevated to Minister of State for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees. We thank you for appointing her as Minister,” said Kitgum district chairperson Christopher Arwai Obol.

“We want to pledge that we shall offer support to our leaders so that they deliver upon their mandate.”

Obol also thanked the President through the NRM government for curbing cattle rustling in the region.

He assured him that the PDM is doing well in Kitgum.