Ogur Subcounty, Lira District – In a landmark move aimed at eradicating poverty and promoting self-reliance, Local Council One (LC1) chairpersons of Ogur Subcounty have formed a cooperative society to spearhead income-generating initiatives in their communities.
During a meeting held on Saturday at the Ogur Subcounty headquarters, the LC1s unanimously agreed to establish the Ogur Local Council One Cooperative Society Limited. They elected Michael Odongo, the current LC3 Chairperson of Ogur, as the interim chairperson of the cooperative.
Mr. Odongo welcomed the initiative, calling it “a step in the right direction” and urging members to commit to long-term development rather than short-term gains.
“The problem with many people is that they only want what they can eat today — hand-to-mouth,” he said. “But we must be willing to work hard for a better tomorrow.”
The meeting was organized by Major (Rtd) Emmy Johnson Opio, who pledged to support the cooperative through the registration process and in developing its constitution. He also promised to donate free seedlings of cocoa and coffee to the LC1s as a starting point for the cooperative’s agricultural ventures.
“The goal is to empower our local leaders to lead by example and eventually sell their produce through the cooperative to gain better market prices,” said Major Opio.
The LC1s were also trained on the basics of cooperative management by UPDF Officer Major Tonny Oyar Abicilama, who emphasized that the success of any cooperative depends on the commitment and unity of its members.
“A cooperative is built on the will of the members. You must be ready to contribute, participate, and make decisions together,” said Major Oyar. “When we unite under a cooperative, we can lobby for support more effectively and achieve greater development.”
The LC1s embraced the idea of cocoa farming and took home cocoa seedlings, which they pledged to plant and use to mobilize their communities toward sustainable agriculture and cooperative membership.
