Calls for political tolerance, peaceful campaigns and equitable development dominated Mashujaa Day celebrations in Butula Sub-County, held at Bukati Comprehensive School, as leaders urged residents to shun violence and work together to advance development.

Principal Administrative Secretary in the Office of the President Arthur Osiya said the region would benefit more from development projects if leaders maintained a good working relationship with the national government.

“Developments are lobbied and this can only happen when you are working together with the government of the day. Engaging in opposition politics will derail our region rather than building it, and as a result, our people will suffer the most,” he said.

Osiya assured Butula residents that efforts were underway to establish Benga University as an independent institution, saying the government was working with the area MP Joseph Oyula to realize the project.

“Through our good working relationship with Oyula, we are working together with the national government to ensure that we bring Benga University to this sub-county. We are sure that coming year, we will have Benga University as an institution on its own so that our students and people can benefit,” he said.

He condemned any intimidation of voters, urging leaders to respect the democratic process and allow residents to choose their preferred candidates through the ballot.

“This election will not be decided through violence, but through the choice of the people. Let all leaders stop intimidating our people by forcefully imposing leaders on them. Our people are the ones who will decide, and we are calling on them to register as voters so that they can have their voice in decision-making,” he said.

The Butula MP urged young people aspiring for leadership to embrace peaceful campaigns and avoid violence.

“There is no need for youth leaders seeking leadership to do so through violence. As leaders, we will retire and it will be your turn. Let’s be gentle and keep peace, remain together and advise each other. Let’s seek the opportunity in a gentle manner, knowing that it is the people who will elect leaders,” Oyula said.

He also called on local leaders to cooperate with the national government to accelerate development in the county.

“Let’s work with the government and avoid being in the opposition for our development. This has made us remain behind for many years, until we joined the broad-based government, when we started to see development,” he said.

However, the MP criticized the county government for what he termed inadequate development in Butula, demanding an equitable share of projects and resources for the sub-county.

“As people of Butula, we have not had any meaningful project in this area. We must get our rightful share, and we are demanding it. We do pay tax just as other areas, and that is why we are demanding. Those representing our people in the county government should work together with all elected leaders for the benefit of our people,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Butula Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Mirriam Tilas warned of a crackdown on the sale of illicit alcohol, expressing concern over the alleged involvement of children in the business.

“There is an illicit brew business in this sub-county, and children are involved in the business. We have now started to deal with those involved. We want anyone with information regarding those doing the business to tell us. The worst part of it is that children are being used in the business, which is ruining their lives,” she said.

The DCC also cautioned parents against neglecting their responsibilities, particularly during the school holiday, warning that children found engaging in criminal activities or loitering on roads at night would face action.

“We want our children to be taken care of because they will be at home for a long period. We don’t want to find them as part of criminal groups terrorizing residents. We will not entertain children loitering on our roads at night; if found, they will be arrested,” she warned.

By Salome Alwanda and Rodgers Omondi