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Moroto, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Karamoja Regional Council has paid tribute to the former Member of Parliament for Moroto municipality, Simon Peter Aleper.
Aleper who was also National Resistance Movement Central Executive Committee Member died in a fatal motor accident at Bukoona along Iganga-Tirinyi road in the wee hours of Tuesday morning while on his way to Kampala.
Aleper’s body was received on Saturday at Nadunget Airstrip by Karamoja Leaders and taken to Moroto Boma grounds for a special regional council sitting. The session was presided over by the Moroto district speaker, Ceaser Akol.
Paul Lokol, the LC5 Chairperson of the Nabilatuk who moved a motion to honor Aleper said that the late has been the only strong pillar and hope for the leadership of Karamoja as far as development is concerned.
He said the late died as a Karamojong martyr because he saved a situation where investors wanted to take away community land in the Tapac sub-county.
Lokol said that the late has mentored them and ensured they operate at the proper speed and replacing an iconic leader like the late will take Karamoja along.
He urged his fellow leaders to continue with the advocacy and supporting programs that can develop the region.
John De West Ariko, the LC5 Chairperson of the Abim district said that Aleper made much great contribution towards the development and unity among the Karamojong communities.
Ariko noted that Aleper was very active in the mobilization of resources for facilitating the developmental activities.
John Nangiro, the Nakapiripirit district Chairperson described the late as a strong fighter for the Karamoja issues and making sure it is turned into a better place.
Nangiro said that they have been advocating for the agency that would help to steer the development of the sub-region.
Meri Jino, The LC5 Chairperson of Kaabong district noted that the Karamoja Regional development plan cannot be approved if the Karamoja Development Agency- KDA is not reinstated.
Jino noted that the region now has learned people and expertise who can run the KDA organization. He added that this would help to address the challenge of corruption and mismanagement of government programs in Karamoja.
Jino said that the deceased was spearheading the retention of KDA and the government should consider reviving it to fulfill their developmental programs.
He appealed to the government to functionalize the KDA as a memory of the late Aleper as one of his greatest achievements in developing the region.
John Paul Kodet, the LC5 chairperson of Napak district who seconded the emotion of attribute said that the late had put the region into his heart for development purposes.
Kodet noted that the late has been pushing for the modern cattle farm in the region where people would go and learn.
Kodet recalled that Aleper was behind the affirmative action during the recruitment of the Police force in the Karamoja.
He added that the late advocated for more slots for the Karamoja recruitment which saw over 78 taken into the police force.
Ceaser Akol, the Moroto District speaker said that the late worked harder to see the region move several steps ahead and be part of the country in social and economic transformation.
Akol noted that the region was unified and there were no boundaries which explained the peaceful coexistence among the different clusters in the region.
Akol observed that the Aleper had firmly stood on the idea of functionalizing Karamoja as a region of its own.
Aleper served as Member of Parliament for Moroto Municipality in the year 2011 before losing his seat to Fred Angella in 2016. He later returned in 2021 for the same seat but lost to Francis Adome during the NRM primaries before he was elected as National vice chairperson of NRM for the Karamoja sub-region.
Aleper has also been a chairperson of the Karamoja Professionals, an association formed to oversee the development programs in the region.
Aleper will be laid to rest on Tuesday at his ancestral home in Kangole, Napak district.
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