President Museveni has commended the recently appointed minister of state for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, Lillian Aber for proving that being disadvantaged at birth is not a disability.
Aber, who is also the Woman Member of Parliament for Kitgum District, comes from a very humble background and growing up, she faced a lot of hardships especially when it came to acquiring education. And according to the minister, she almost gave up but thank God that a good samaritan came her way and helped to meet her fees expenses.
“I want to congratulate my granddaughter Lillian Aber for proving that being disadvantaged at birth is not a disability. Our children should not be surviving by luck like Lillian Aber, but I thank you for surviving. That is not the vision of the NRM. The NRM wants all children to survive through equal opportunities,” President Museveni said.
The president made the remarks today as a chief guest during the homecoming and thanksgiving ceremony of Aber, held at Kitgum Institute playground.
Museveni explained that through various programs and affirmative action, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) gives opportunities to all Ugandans to have a fair share of the national cake irrespective of their background.
“Wherever you are, work hard and trust God. The NRM gives the opportunities and we do it deliberately,” he said.
“People don’t listen to what the NRM advises them, otherwise all the opportunities are there. You hear Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga; this is money put by the NRM that could be used by the disadvantaged people to start from somewhere.”
On her part, Aber expressed gratitude towards President Museveni for giving her a chance to serve Uganda as a Minister.
“Your Excellency today is a very special day. I want to sincerely thank you because from the very first time as a young girl from the university you guided, mentored and even appointed me to your office. Who am I? I never knew that one day I will stand here as a minister,” Aber noted.
“I thank you for entrusting me with a ministerial position. I’m indebted to you, Your Excellency.”
Aber also pledged to the President that she will ensure that his dream of ensuring that a better Uganda is achieved.
“We shall preach the gospel of wealth creation and fight our enemy called poverty,” she assured.
The NRM Secretary General, Richard Todwong lauded President Museveni for bringing peace and stability in Northern Uganda that has created a conducive environment for the people to settle and improve their livelihoods through fighting poverty.
“Your Excellency, I thank you for mentoring, guiding and identifying young people and putting them in the positions of leadership. We believe that in your hands, we are safe as a country, and we are focused on grooming more young leaders. We thank you for appointing Hon. Lillian Aber, Hon. Nyamutoro and all other young leaders,” Todwong said.
