Alebtong | In a transformative push to combat poverty and spur economic growth, Alebtong district’s aspiring Woman Member of Parliament, Janet Akello Omara Orech, has launched a sweeping agricultural initiative.
Putting the launch into action, she has distributed over 15,000 cocoa and coffee seedlings and 20,000 pine seedlings to churches and communities across the district. The initiative, valued at millions of shillings, signals her broader agenda to position agriculture and agro-industry as engines for development in northern Uganda.
Speaking to the beneficiaries at Alebtong Town Council on May 4, Akello emphasized her mission to empower churches and farmers with sustainable income sources. “This is not about politics; it is about lasting change,” she declared.
“By equipping churches with cocoa and pine seedlings, we are creating generational wealth. A single cocoa tree can yield 5kg of beans annually, sold at shs40,000 per kilogram, and thrive for 70 years,” she explained.
Her initiative, which will continue through the week to cover schools and vulnerable farmers, aligns with Akello’s vision to replicate her decade-long agricultural advocacy.
Since the early 2000s, she has promoted high-yield crops like improved maize, soybeans, and sunflower in the Greater Lango, Acholi, and Mid-Western regions, catalyzing a surge in agribusiness ventures.
The women district MP hopeful has also unveiled her ambitious plan to construct a state-of-the-art cocoa processing factory on a 5-acre site in Alebtong Town Council.
She said the factory will add value to raw produce and create jobs. “This factory will ensure farmers earn more, while employing thousands in processing, logistics, and trade.”
Akello intends to distribute 5 million cocoa seedlings by 2026, potentially converting over 11,000 acres into cocoa farms, and announced a new business hub to produce bar soap, smearing oil, and shoes in Alebtong.
At least 5,000 youth are projected to be employed. “We are industrializing from the grassroots,” she asserted.
Farmers’ success
Akello has deployed agricultural extension officers to provide free training on planting, harvesting, and marketing. She urged churches with unused land to submit requests, stressing inclusivity: “No denomination will be left behind.”
Now eyeing the 2026-2031 MP seat, Akello appeals for votes based on development track records.
Her credentials, she said, include designing the 2006/2011 RALNUC Project, which improved community roads and introduced drought-resistant crops like epuripur sorghum.
“Alebtong needs leaders who deliver, not just promise,” she stated.
She’s thanked
Local leaders and beneficiaries praised the initiative. Reverend David Opio of Alebtong Anglican Church said, “These seedlings will help us fund community projects and reduce dependency.”
District officials estimate the initiatives could significantly boost household incomes and local government revenue through taxation.
As the 2026 polls approach, Akello’s blend of agribusiness expertise and grassroots mobilization may position her as a formidable contender, promising to redefine leadership in Alebtong through tangible, market-driven solutions.
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