Gov’t Pledges To Send Investors To West Nile
H.E Alupo poses for a group photo with religious leaders during the Irishad mosque fundraing in Arua city on Saturday Photo Credit Andrew Cohen Amvesi
ARUA. The government has assured the people of West Nile of its commitment to send investors to the region.
The assurance made by Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo, the Vice President of the Republic of Uganda, is as a result of the recent connectivity of the region to stable and reliable national grid electricity.
“I want to use this opportunity to remind all the people of West Nile to now use the reliable electricity for industrialization, value addition and when we do this, we will be creating jobs for our children, we shall be widening our investment and strengthening our economy at the local level here as a region, but also nationally,” Alupo said.
She made the remarks during a grand fundraising event for the construction of the Irishad complex mosque held at Arua primary school ground in Arua Central Division, Arua City on Saturday, April 26, 2025.
Alupo started by inspecting the ongoing works of Irishad mosque before proceeding to the venue of the fundraising where she supported the occasion with Shs10m cash and pledged to continue supporting the works on a monthly basis through the area Member of Parliament (MP), Jackson Atima Lee Buti.
Several other leaders including the Minister of State for Urban Development, Mario Obiga Kania, MPs from different Constituencies, former MPs, local leaders and the community members also raised funds to support the construction of the mosque.
For the love of the people in his Constituency, Atima Jackson gave Shs40m cash to support the ongoing works of the Irishad complex mosque to the excitement of the Muslim community in Arua city and beyond.
But during the function, Alupo said one of the factors of production which is very important for investment is human resource and electricity connectivity.
“So, I want to assure the people of West Nile that we now have all the prerequisites for any investment to be established here in West Nile and the government will continue attracting investors to Uganda but most importantly here in West Nile, Arua which we are all calling the business hub of this region,” Alupo said.
She noted that other service delivery programs the government is establishing include; a primary school in every parish in West Nile, a secondary school in every sub-county, a technical institution in every county and a university at the regional level – which is Muni University for the case of West Nile.
“The government will continue in the best way to follow the policy in line with education but you are called upon to do your part by sending all your children to school,” Alupo advised.
“And in the same vein, the government will continue with the policy of a health centre III in every sub-county, a health centre IV in every county, a district hospital in the district and a regional hospital in a region like this which we already have plus equipping them and adding technical staff. But you are also called upon to be a strong pillar of the government by ensuring preventive health by going for immunization, having exercises, observing your diet, sanitation and hygiene,” Alupo added.
She further urged the people of West Nile to continue guarding the prevailing peace brought by President Yoweri Museveni and use the peace to create more wealth for the prosperity of the region.
Alupo further pledged to follow up the issue of Irishad mosque land title, raised by Sam Wadri Nyakua, the Arua City Mayor and also remind the President on some of the promises he made to the Muslims of Arua city, especially on the construction of another complex mosque in the city.
In his remarks, Atima thanked the Vice President for honoring his invitation to come and support the construction of Irishad mosque.
“Your Excellency, as the MP of Arua Central Division which is the center of West Nile, as the regional Whip of West Nile who welcomes all the Muslim community of this region and as PLU coordinator of West Nile, I want to thank you very much for coming to grace this noble occasion. I want to thank H.E Yoweri Museveni for identifying you to be the Vice President of this country,” Atima said.
“Your Excellency, I have thought about Irishad complex mosque construction project, I talked to my family, I sacrificed so many things for the purpose of the work of God, I have therefore, come here with a humble contribution of Shs40m cash,” Atima said to the applause of the jubilant Muslims of Arua Central Division.
Meanwhile Dr. Muhammad Haruna Bukenya, the second deputy Mufti of Uganda, said the noble initiative of the Irishad complex mosque will serve as a hub for worship, community services, and Islamic learning; impacting both the present and future generations of Arua and beyond.
“We extend our sincere and heartfelt gratitude to H.E the President of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for upholding the principles of freedom of worship which has enabled Muslims and all faith communities in Uganda to practice their religion in peace and dignity.
We pray that Allah grants him long life, wisdom and continued guidance in leading this nation,” Bukenya prayed before handing over Shs5m on top of the Shs10m earlier donated as part of the contribution from the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) headquarters on behalf of Mufti Sheik Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje, the Mufti of Uganda.