Okidi Patrick | Kaberamaido: His Royal Highness Otaya Raphael of the Kumam Chiefdom has urged the Ugandan government to support the kingdom in realizing various developmental programs offered by the NRM government.
Otaya, the leader of the Kumam Kingdom, has also called upon the Ugandan government to enhance and support the development of Kumam culture, which is currently lagging behind.
Raphael Otaya highlighted that the Kumam people have not made significant progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN, aimed at ending HIV/AIDS, malaria, among other diseases, by 2030.
Otaya expressed concern about the significant setbacks in development, particularly in health, education, and access to clean water in Kumam. He revealed that 20.1% of girls in Kumam drop out of school due to teenage pregnancy.
His Highness Raphael noted that research estimates indicate that out of 498,657 people in Kumam, only 35.6% live in decent houses, while the majority, 64.4%, reside in grass-thatched houses. Furthermore, 98% of the population uses firewood or charcoal for cooking, contributing to environmental degradation.
Despite these challenges, he expressed gratitude to the government for implementing poverty alleviation projects such as the Parish Development Model, UWEP, Youth Livelihood Program, Special Disability Grant, and Emyooga, aimed at improving the lives of Ugandans. He encouraged community members to embrace these government programs.
He further appealed to the government to construct a Kumam cultural heritage site to benefit local businesses.
Speaking to the media from Kaberamaido on Thursday, Otaya urged the youth to engage in income-generating activities such as bricklaying, poultry keeping, and piggery projects, discouraging laziness among them.
Regarding the issue of unruly youth in the Kumam cultural community, Otaya called for joint efforts to combat criminal activities.
Additionally, Otaya disclosed that Kumam cultural leaders are collaborating with the Ugandan government to ensure the community benefits from government programs.
However, Otaya also urged all development partners to prioritize the development of the Kumam tribe as a key priority.
