By Alfred Opio
Residents of Agule County have been assured of improved development during the new parliamentary term following years of stagnation caused by political disputes.
The Member of Parliament-elect for Agule County, Josephine Ibaseret, said the constituency is expected to experience meaningful development during the new term compared to the previous one, which was largely affected by prolonged court battles over the parliamentary seat.
Ibaseret explained that the leadership of the constituency was disrupted after the election of Polycap Ogwar was challenged in court by his rival David Ocwa. The dispute resulted in a lengthy legal process that eventually saw Ogwar lose the seat after serving for about two years, with Ocwa later declared the rightful winner.
According to Ibaseret, the prolonged court process created a leadership vacuum that negatively affected service delivery and slowed down development initiatives in the constituency.
She noted that whenever elected leaders are dragged into court battles after elections, the affected constituency often loses valuable time that would otherwise be used to lobby for government programmes and development projects.
Ibaseret added that resources that could have been used to support development activities are often diverted to legal expenses, leaving the electorate without tangible benefits.
However, she pledged to make up for the lost time by ensuring that development projects meant for the previous term, as well as those planned for the current term, are pursued for the benefit of the people of Agule County.
The MP-elect also called on residents to embrace unity and reconciliation following the recently concluded elections.
She expressed concern that some supporters of different political candidates remain divided, with some community members reportedly no longer greeting each other due to political differences.
Ibaseret warned that such divisions could fuel hatred and insecurity if not addressed, urging residents to put politics aside and focus on development.
“The election period is now over. It is time for us to work together for the development of our area,” she said.
She further encouraged the community to take advantage of the ongoing rainy season to engage in agriculture, noting that farming remains a key economic activity that can improve household incomes and livelihoods in Agule County.
