By KT Reporter
The government, through the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development, has delivered a brand new van to the Acholi Cultural Institution to facilitate the transportation of traditional chiefs.
The 14-seater vehicle was delivered on Wednesday at the Cultural Institution Palace in the Bardege-Layibi Division of Gulu City. This delivery followed a petition from the Acholi Paramount Chief to the Gender Ministry requesting transport for the institution’s chiefs.
Okello Okuna, the Minister of Information and Communication at the Cultural Institution, told Uganda Radio Network that the van will be used to transport the chiefs and staff for routine field visits.
He explained that the Cultural Institution had been spending large amounts of money hiring vehicles to transport chiefs and staff for meetings and fieldwork. Okuna praised the government for its commitment to supporting the development of the cultural institution and the Acholi sub-region in particular.
Martin Okumu, the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Finance at the Cultural Institution, noted that the new vehicle will help reduce the operational costs previously incurred for fieldwork. He mentioned that the Cultural Institution is currently conducting field visits in seven different chiefdoms within the Acholi Subregion, which require transportation.
In the past, they had been spending up to 500,000 shillings or more on hiring a van. Okumu said the van is expected to aid in the cultural institution’s first royal visit to His Royal Majesty Philip Olarker Rauni III of the Alur Kingdom on March 7 in Zombo District.
However, he mentioned that the government has yet to deliver two other vehicles that were also requested for conducting the official activities of the cultural institution. Since 2023, the Acholi Cultural Institution has been implementing a spotlight project in the districts of Omoro, Kitgum, and Lamwo.
The project focuses on empowering youth, improving livelihoods, and fighting HIV in rural communities. It is being funded by the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
