Kitgum Residents Walk, remember Irene Gleeson
His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is pledging Government’s support in various development projects initiated by the Irene Gleeson Foundation in Kitgum District, Northern Uganda. The President has also reiterated Government would continue to ensure peace and security in the region as a pre-requisite for development.
The President’s remarks were contained in a speech delivered on his behalf by the Minister for Public Service, Hon Muruli Mukasa at the Irene Gleeson Foundation Charity Walk held Saturday in Kitgum (IGF).
The President who contributed 10 Million Uganda Shillings to the IGF said Government would address the challenges faced by the instituion. He further called on residents to live moral lives to reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS.
EALA Speaker, Rt Hon Daniel F. Kidega, was the Chief Walker at the event, held to raise funds to support over 10,000 pupils with books and pens.
The EALA Speaker said the region had regained peace and thus called for concerted effort to improve the quality of education.
“There is peace now, and we should never return to the old days but let us do everything possible to enable children to get the best in terms of education”, he said. Rt Hon Kidega said there was need to curb corruption, saying those who dipped their fingers into the coffers meant to support public issues were a disgrace.
The EALA Speaker said EALA was concerned about the insecurity challenges especially in the Republic of South Sudan and Burundi and expressed hope that permanent solutions would be arrived at.
Thousands of walkers braved the morning heat to cover a distance of 4.6 kilometres that started at the Kitgum Bus Park and ended at the Bomah Grounds in the centre of the town. The Executive Director of Irene Gleeson Foundation, John Paul Kiffasi, lauded the supporters of his Foundation for the support saying the initiative was bearing fruits.
“Some of the colleagues you see here today were products of the Irene Gleeson Foundation and today they serve in various capacities in Kitgum district and elsewhere. They hold various portfolios in a number of fields including medicine, law and academics,” he said.
“Though Irene Gleeson, the founder of the Foundation is gone, her legacy lives through this children,” he added.
The occasion was attended by Cabinet Ministers and Parliamentarians in the region, well-wishers and supporters from the Northern region and Uganda. Among the companies that contributed to the cause were NBS Television, Movit, Coca-Cola and UMEME.
Irene Gleeson better known as ‘Mama Irene’ in Kitgum, came to Uganda in 1991 and settled in the (then war-torn) district where she offered free education, meals, medication and spiritual nourishment through her Foundation. She succumbed to throat cancer in July 2013 and by the time of her death; she had put up four primary schools, a vocational institute, a community radio and the biggest Church of 1,500 seats within Kitgum and Lamwo districts. The organization last year completed her last project of a women's hospital which is now operating in Kitgum district.