The Minister of State for Transport Musa Ecweru has commended Ateker professionals for their role in advancing service delivery in their area.

This was during the inaugural Ateker Professionals Initiative for Development (APID) annual Assembly.

Ateker Professionals Initiative for Development (APID) an Association of professionals from Teso was established in 2020.

The initiative was established to stimulate development initiatives in the Teso region and link network members and partners locally, nationally and internationally.

During a two days meeting held at Akello Hotel, in Soroti City and opened by Hon. Musa Francis Ecweru, the State Minister for Works and Transport indicated his pleasure that the Teso Professionals had woken up to fight poverty.

Hon Minister called upon professionals to embrace government Programes like Parish Development Model, Emyooga among others.

Hon. Ecweru advised professionals to encourage other Iteso to join Teso Professionals association saying the formation was a game changer.

Ecweru appealed to Teso Professionals to uplift Education and Health in Teso.

However, he said the Iteso professionals should focus and uplift traditional schools quoting an example saying that the Old boys of Teso College Aloet have uplifted TCA.

Hon Ecweru called upon the public to look for money for earning a living adding that the clergy should engage in projects that will bring in money to churches.

He also advised pastors and believers to focus on Agriculture when rains start and minimize fasting.

Minister Ecweru has urged the people of Teso to work hard and stop drinking very early in the mornings.

He expressed disappointment saying that the men had left the burden of looking after children under the care of the mothers.

Dr. John Ekure, the Chairperson Ateker Professionals Initiative for Development (APID) said Ateker Professionals Initiative for Development (APID) limited is an Association of Iteso Professionals established in 2020 and registered in 2021.

He said APID was registered as a non-profit entity and it is not political.

He said there were about 200 Ateker professionals who had registered as members and noted that membership fee was 500,000 shillings.

Dr. Ekure said Teso and Karamoja were lagging behind in Development.  Dr. John Okurut one of the registered Ateker Professionals said they are in the processing of opening a bank.