Kasilo County MP-Elect  Calls for United Leadership to Revive Teso Development

By Peterson Hiirya.

Soroti, Uganda — Peter Emaju, the Member of Parliament-elect for Kasilo County, has called for unity among leaders in the Teso sub-region, saying the region is entering a new era of leadership aimed at addressing poverty and accelerating development.

Emaju made the remarks during a breakfast meeting of elected Members of Parliament and LC5 chairpersons held at Soroti Hotel. The engagement was organized by Paul Sande Emolot together with the Iteso Cultural Union to formulate strategic priorities for the development of the Teso sub-region.

In an  exclusive interview , Emaju said the region was experiencing what he described as a “renaissance of leadership,” with new leaders committed to working together for the benefit of the people.

“Today in Teso we are experiencing what we call a renaissance of leadership. What is happening here is to pave the way for leaders to work together while bringing in the aspect of culture under the leadership of Papa Emorimor,” he said.

He noted that the meeting focused on strengthening collaboration between Members of Parliament and the cultural institution to address key challenges facing the region.

According to Emaju, one of the main issues discussed was the need for unity among legislators from Teso, who number about 35 in Parliament.

“In the last five to ten years, Teso has faced challenges on how the region works together as a group in Parliament. The 2026–2031 period gives us an opportunity to restart and build unity among leaders,” he said.

He explained that leaders at the meeting agreed on several priorities, including fighting poverty and strengthening cooperation between political leaders and the cultural institution.

“One of the key issues we discussed is how we can work together with the Iteso Cultural Union to address poverty in Teso. The second issue is promoting unity among leaders because when leaders are united, that unity trickles down to the people,” Emaju said.

The MP-elect said many residents of the region are eager to see leaders speak with one voice on issues affecting Teso.

“The prayer of many people is to see a united Teso and united leaders working together for development,” he added.

Emaju also spoke about his priorities for Kasilo County after being elected to Parliament. He clarified that his victory should not be viewed as breaking a record but rather as a decision by the people of the constituency to change leadership.

“The people of Kasilo chose that this time we need a change in leadership. The responsibility is not only on me but also on the people of Kasilo to work together and continue from where the former leader stopped,” he said.

He acknowledged the contribution of the former area MP who served the constituency for more than two decades, saying his leadership laid an important foundation for development.

Kasilo County, located along the shores of Lake Kyoga, has significant economic potential due to its strategic location linking Teso to other parts of the country including the Busoga region.

Emaju said the recent introduction of a ferry service on Lake Kyoga would play a key role in transforming the local economy.

“We launched a ferry about three weeks ago, and as leaders we must now guide our communities to think about development opportunities that come with it,” he said.

He cited the development potential of Kaguara landing site, noting that the docking point could stimulate trade and business opportunities for local communities.

“If Kaguara is going to be a docking area, we must ask ourselves what value that docking point will bring to the people in that community,” he said.

The MP-elect also pledged to prioritize the construction of a long-awaited road linking Ngora to Kaguara, which he said had been promised by Yoweri Museveni in the early 1990s.

“That road is no longer just a promise; it is now a commitment and is currently at the procurement stage. One of our priorities as leaders is to ensure that within the next five years the construction starts and is completed,” he said.

Emaju also expressed support for Anita Annet Among to continue serving as Speaker of Parliament, describing her as an experienced and approachable leader.

“We need a speaker who has been tested, who is approachable, and who understands both sides of the political divide. For us, we know who we are going to vote for, and that will be Anita Annet Among,” he said.

The meeting at Soroti Hotel brought together newly elected legislators, district chairpersons, cultural leaders, and religious representatives as part of ongoing efforts to develop a unified agenda for the transformation of the Teso sub-region.