President Museveni Champions Equal Opportunities, Commends Minister Aber’s Resilience

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni commended the recently appointed Minister of State for Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Refugees, Hon. Dr. Lillian Aber, for demonstrating that being disadvantaged at birth is not a disability.

Lillian Aber, also the Woman Member of Parliament for Kitgum District, hails from a humble background and encountered numerous hardships, particularly in obtaining an education. Despite nearly giving up, she persevered, aided by a benefactor who assisted with her fees.

“I congratulate my granddaughter Lillian Aber for proving that being disadvantaged at birth is not a disability. Our children shouldn’t rely on luck like Lillian Aber did, but I’m thankful she survived. This isn’t the NRM’s vision. We aim for all children to thrive through equal opportunities,” stated President Museveni during Lillian Aber’s thanksgiving ceremony at Kitgum Institute playground.

President Museveni emphasized that through various programs and affirmative action, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) provides opportunities for all Ugandans to access the national resources regardless of their background.

He urged leaders to focus on aiding and mobilizing Ugandans to generate wealth through prudent enterprise selection and calculation.

Despite notable progress in development, education, health, and security, President Museveni noted a significant gap in wealth creation, particularly in rural areas.

To address this, he urged Ugandans to embrace government poverty alleviation initiatives like the Parish Development Model and Emyooga.

Regarding education, President Museveni reiterated his call for free education in all government schools to prevent children from dropping out due to fees.

On the issue of elephants attacking communities in Kitgum, he pledged to direct the Ministry of Tourism to install an electric fence to address the problem.

Regarding limited slots in the Presidential skilling hub program, President Museveni advised MPs to collaborate with the government to increase the operational budget to accommodate more beneficiaries.

Eng. Hilary Onek, Minister of Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Refugees, thanked President Museveni for his support toward the people of Acholi and pledged to mentor Minister Aber closely.

In her remarks, Lillian Aber expressed gratitude to President Museveni for the opportunity to serve as a Minister and pledged to fulfill his vision of a prosperous Uganda by advocating for wealth creation and combating poverty.