Erute North, Lira - July 19, 2025:
Despite a recent setback in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) primary elections for the Erute North Member of Parliament seat, Retired Major Emmy Johnson Opio has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to the constituency, shifting his primary focus back to his ambitious agricultural development plans aimed at combating poverty.
Major Opio, who had campaigned on a dual platform of providing political leadership and tackling poverty through large-scale cocoa cultivation, stated that while the electorate chose another candidate for the MP ticket, his dedication to Erute North's economic empowerment remains resolute
"The political contest is one avenue, but true service to our people transcends the ballot box," Major Opio declared. "My core mission to fight poverty through agriculture, specifically cocoa and coffee, continues with even greater urgency."
Outlining concrete action plans, Opio announced:
1. Immediate Distribution (Now - October 2025):50,000 cocoa seedlings will be distributed to interested farmers across Erute North within the next three months.
2. Massive 2026 Scale-Up:A significantly larger distribution of 500,000 cocoa seedlings and 500,000 coffee seedlings is planned for next year.
3. Accessibility:Interested residents can collect cocoa seedlings immediately and at any time from the nursery established at Agweng Parents Nursery and Primary School in Agweng.
Opio emphasized that these initiatives represent a direct investment in the livelihoods of Erute North residents. Cocoa and coffee are high-value cash crops with significant potential to boost household incomes and stimulate local economic growth when adopted widely.
"Politics can be divisive, but the fight against poverty unites us all," Opio stated. "Providing these seedlings is a tangible step towards equipping our people with the tools they need for sustainable wealth creation. Each seedling planted today is a step away from poverty tomorrow."
The retired Major revealed that each cocoa seedling costs approximately 2,000 Ugandan Shillings to produce and distribute. The scale of the planned distributions – reaching 550,000 cocoa seedlings and 500,000 coffee seedlings within the next 18 months – underscores the significant personal investment and commitment involved.
Major Opio urged all interested farmers and residents of Erute North to take advantage of the free cocoa seedlings available now at the Agweng Parents Nursery and Primary School site. He encouraged community participation as essential for the success of this poverty alleviation drive.
"Let us unite behind this common goal of economic empowerment. Visit the nursery in Agweng, collect your seedlings, plant them, nurture them, and let's grow prosperity together in Erute North," he concluded, signaling a determined pivot from political campaigning to hands-on agricultural development.
