Hon. Amb. Barbara Nekesa Oundo Backs Community Empowerment Drive at Richard Wanyama Hamala Thanksgiving

BUSIA, Uganda – The National Resistance Movement (NRM) National Treasurer, Hon. Amb. Barbara Nekesa Oundo, has urged residents of Busia District to actively engage their leaders and understand the constitutional responsibilities of Members of Parliament in order to promote accountable leadership and effective service delivery.

Amb. Nekesa made the remarks over the weekend while attending a thanksgiving celebration hosted by the Member of Parliament for Samia Bugwe Central Constituency, Hon. Richard Wanyama Hamala. The event attracted political leaders, religious leaders, community members, and supporters from across the district.

Among the notable guests was the Workers' Member of Parliament, Hon. Fiona Nakku, alongside other local leaders who joined residents in celebrating Hon. Hamala's electoral victory and renewed commitment to serving the people.

During the thanksgiving ceremony, Hon. Richard Wanyama Hamala reaffirmed his dedication to improving livelihoods in his constituency by pledging to dedicate part of his parliamentary salary towards supporting community development initiatives.

The legislator encouraged residents to organize themselves into savings groups, cooperatives, and other income-generating associations, explaining that organized groups would be better positioned to receive financial support from him while also benefiting from existing government wealth creation programmes.

He emphasized that empowering communities economically remains one of the most effective ways of fighting poverty and improving household incomes.

In recognition of Amb. Barbara Nekesa's contribution to the NRM's electoral success in the Bukedi sub-region, Hon. Hamala presented her with a cow as a token of appreciation.

The gift acknowledged her role in spearheading mobilization efforts across Bukedi during the 2026 General Elections, where the NRM registered impressive victories, with the majority of the party's parliamentary flag bearers winning their respective seats and President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni securing more than 70 percent of the presidential vote in the region.

Addressing the gathering, Amb. Nekesa reminded residents that Members of Parliament have clearly defined constitutional responsibilities that extend beyond development donations and campaign promises.

She outlined the four principal functions of Parliament, urging citizens to evaluate their elected representatives based on these constitutional mandates.

She explained that the first responsibility is legislation, where MPs debate, amend and pass laws that guide Uganda's governance and national development.

Secondly, she noted that MPs serve a representational role by voicing the concerns and aspirations of their constituents, engaging communities through consultations, and presenting local issues before the relevant government ministries and agencies.

The third responsibility, she said, is budget approval, where Parliament scrutinizes and approves the national budget as well as government borrowing to ensure that public resources are allocated appropriately.

Finally, she highlighted Parliament's oversight role, which involves monitoring the implementation of government programmes, supervising public projects, and holding ministers and government institutions accountable to safeguard taxpayers' money and prevent misuse of public resources.

Amb. Nekesa encouraged residents to remain informed and actively participate in governance by engaging their leaders constructively and demanding accountability throughout their term of office.

The thanksgiving ceremony also served as an opportunity for leaders to reaffirm their commitment to unity, development, and the continued implementation of the NRM government's socio-economic transformation agenda aimed at improving the welfare of Ugandans.

The event concluded with prayers, cultural performances, and messages of appreciation from religious and political leaders, who called upon residents to maintain peace, support government programmes, and work together for the continued development of Busia District and the wider Bukedi sub-region.