In memory of Alerek road crash victims, political promise 

The council also adopted and agreed that Alerek day would be a public holiday.

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By Hope Owiny Ochero 

Abim – 26, December 2021: It’s less than two weeks to an event in memory of the eight people who died in Alerek fatal road crash on January 8 2021. 

On that day, a Fuso lorry with registration number UAZ 712D was carrying football players and fans from Alerek Sub County in Abim district to Lokitelaebu in Kotido district.

 Sadly, fate came and the lorry overturned at Angorom, Abim-Kotido road. Several others have been left physically impaired to date.

The road is known for a steep hill and a popular black spot.

A touching incident it was, the Abim district leaders during the requiem mass at Alerek primary school made a promise.

The event attracted many people including RDC, LC 5 chairperson, Members of Parliament and former Minister for Karamoja Affairs.

Jimmy Ochero, the then LC5 chairperson promised in open space the district would erect a monument in memory of the lost young souls.

He added that the day (January 8) would also be observed as a public holiday in the entire district marked with prayers, games and sports.

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After the burials, the matter was discussed in the district council sitting of January 27 where the council approved a budget of shs10 million for erecting the said monument.

The council also adopted and agreed that the day would be a public holiday.

Eleven months later, the monument has not been erected and it is less than two weeks to the second Memorial Day.

“No one seems to be talking about the empty promises made,” TND News’ Hope Ochero who is querying the political promise reports.

Ochero, the then LC5 chairperson said in an interview, “My leadership had done all the paper works and it was only left with implementation. It is upon the new leadership to implement because our term expired shortly after the incident.”

Retired Captain Yuventino O’mara Adyeda is the current LC 5 chairperson. He told TND News the shs10m budget passed by the previous council became useless when the new council started.

“The matter was not in the handover report. My council will take it up since it was a decision made.”

Adyeda, however, is hopeful the district will hold the second commemoration prayer on January 8.

Graceline Ocheng, a female councillor of Alerek Sub County said the matter needs to be raised again in the new council for implementation.

“I have failed to raise it again in the council,” Graceline who was part of the previous council honestly said.