Otuke East and West residents have felt yet another act of generosity from Julius Acon Bua, the MP for Otuke East.

Acon is working closely with various Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) to ensure locals escape poverty through socio-economic transformation.

He said, “he is sacrificing part of his parliamentary salary to invest in a local community battling hardship after prolonged drought destroyed most farmers’ crops.”

Speaking to group members on Wednesday, MP Acon attributed his success to the power of the vote, which he said has changed the lives of many politicians in this country.

“Therefore, I want to assure the people of Otuke that for the period they have trusted me to lead them as their area Member of Parliament, I will concentrate most of my activities on the ground by doing things that change people’s lives,” he said.

The MP added that the goat project started in 2023, and so far about 2,000 goats have been given out to ensure that each beneficiary receives and uses one for money generation.

“Today, I want to announce that about 300 goats will be given out, and next month, in October, other groups will also benefit from this project,” he said as beneficiaries listened to him.

He called for togetherness among group members and condemned the habit of selling things that could change one’s life at a very low price. “Let us keep them so that their numbers increase and we use them for paying school fees, medical bills, etc.,” he advised.

The beneficiaries are Omare Wunu Women’s Group, located in Ogwete sub-county, Otuke East, where about 50 group members received goats.

Speaking on behalf of the members, the group’s chairperson, Janet, appreciated MP Acon for always being supportive of the local community with different projects such as drilling boreholes and distributing seeds.

“Acon is a real leader sent by God to rescue the people of Otuke,” she said.

Patrick Otim, chairperson and a beneficiary from the Gwok Yao Group located in Oluru parish, whose members each walked away with a goat, said that since Otuke district was created from Lira district about 20 years ago, they have never seen any MP who has lowered himself to the standard of the local community and concretely done untouchable work that changes people’s lives.

Otim said it is not easy for any elected leader to use most of his or her payments to invest in the voters.

Lilly Akello, a group chairperson of the Nen Anyim VSLA Group located in Amunga Parish, praised MP Acon for making them look big in the community.

“It’s not easy to access almost each household having an animal from an elected leader. In Amunga Parish, children are studying with the effort they are getting from Acon.

“Therefore, I encourage other leaders to copy Acon’s legacy so that they will be remembered on this Earth for the good job they have done while still alive,” she said.

Oribcing VSLA Group chairperson Grace Awor described MP Acon as Otuke’s gold. “This is the first kind of MP I have ever seen since God created the Earth,” she said.

She also appealed to group members who have received goats not to take it for granted but to know that God is leading Acon in what he is doing.

“For that matter, I encourage everyone to always pray for Acon so that he lives longer and longer in this world,” she added.

Other groups that received goats are the Odong Kenwa VSLA Group located in Anyalima Parish and the Ilima Kec VSLA Group located at Oget, among others.