Why MP Atima spent shs150m on community coaster bus

By Andrew Cohen Amvesi

ARUA. Jackson Atima Lee Buti, the Arua Central Division Member of Parliament (MP) has used shs150m to buy a brand-new coaster bus.

Atima said the Arua Central Division community bus will help to solve the compounded challenges of transport faced by his people.

“During moments of sorrow or happiness, many times, we hire vehicles. You would see women climbing on Tipper Lorries and heavy trucks which is indecent. Even bereaved families find it difficult to take mourners and to take family members for burials. We also had challenges in youth activities, especially sports. When youths want to go for sports activities, they find it very difficult,” Atima told journalists on Friday.

“I remember us hiring a coaster bus to take our people to Acholi, to Busoga, to Lango and other regions for FUFA Drum. Then within the region, many times I would see boys boarding tri-cycles to go and play football in Koboko, Yumbe, Maracha and other districts. Accidents would occur with this. We registered those kinds of challenges with them. So, these compounded challenges in transportation prompted me to say why can’t we have some means of transport for them,” he added.

Atima said among many areas of need for the people of Arua Central Division, he picked the concerns and promised to procure a coaster bus to address the challenge of transport.

“I have been saving my little earnings, salaries from the time I joined Parliament for that specific project. Last year in December, I was able to raise a tune of shs150m which I used to order for a coaster bus which arrived in the country and it is now currently within,” Atima remarked.

He said the community bus will officially be launched on Friday April 26, 2024 by the Government Chief Whip, Hon. Hamson Obua who will be accompanied by Michael Toyota, the acting Chairman of Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) and the new Youth and Children’s Affairs Minister, Hon. Balaam Barugahara.

Other Ministers who will grace the occasion include Hon. Lillian Aber, the State Minister for Relief, Disaster preparedness and Refugee Affairs in the Office of the Prime Minister, and Hon. Phiona Nyamutoro, the State Minister of Energy and Mineral Development in charge of Minerals among other dignitaries.

“I now take this opportunity to welcome everybody from the Central Division, people from Arua city, West Nile and across the region to come and join me in handing over this coaster bus to the community of Arua Central Division,” Atima appealed.

Atima noted that the community bus will be managed by local leaders like the local council one (LC1) chairpersons and councilors but especially the LCs because they stay with the community and they know who is where and who is who.

Atima, however, said alongside the handover of the coaster bus, he will officially unveil PLU as being the greater Arua district coordinator of the civic organization which has its objectives of job creation, sustainability of peace and security and fight against corruption.

“I will also take this opportunity to rally support and give thanks to H.E Yoweri Museveni for elevating our new Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba from the previous position of the Special Presidential Advisor to the current position he is holding,” Atima promised.

The occasion to be held at Arua primary school playground will be crowned with feasting and different forms of entertainment including drama and traditional dance among others.