The Namisindwa deputy resident district commissioner, Mrs. Josephine Ibaseret Osiba on Wednesday hosted over 2000 widows drawn from Agule County in her upcountry home located at Opadoi- Pasia village in Akisim sub county, Pallisa district.
Ibaseret said being a newly recruited member to the arena of widows after recently losing her loved husband, James Osbert in June 2024; she thought it fitting to socialize with other widows.
“I have called you my colleagues in a short notice to share challenges we are experiencing and how to find fundamental solutions. I am a very renowned active politician in Pallisa district who contested as a woman member of parliament but lost in controversial political gimmick environment. We are here to discuss issues of development not politics yet” Ibaseret told the guests.
Widows got shocked when Ibaseret surprised them with pieces of Gomasis worth 30 million.
“It’s our culture as Iteso to tie star grass to a bereaved widow that is why am also wrapping you with these gomasis but what is important is for us to form our SACCOs at sub county level so that we lobby for support to help our orphans, meet our family basic needs and gain from government poverty eradication programs” she said.
Ibaseret said her program will embrace the entire district with time to come. Jane Akol from Chelekura lauded Ibaseret for her beneficial initiative that nobody had ever thought of.
“We shall rally behind her, being the only person with a vision for the widows whom people only give promises at burial of their husbands,” Jennifer Arikod from Akisim sub county echoed.
Rev. John Patrick Ekaalet who led the summon during the dinner event asked widows to remain in the house of the Lord.
“Make God your husband and do the work that his word tells us in the Bible. Ibaseret your fellow widow is doing what I expected out of widows and like she has told you, this is not time for politics, go by what you have heard here and don’t go out to change issues,” Rev. Ekaalet said.
Uganda’s life expectancy currently stands at 63 years, with women expected to live longer (64 years) than men (62 years) according to Uganda Bureau of Statistics-UBOS. It also states that about 38% of women are widowed, as compared to only 2% men.