The CAO, also chairperson CAO?s Association, was downcast when he took to the podium to give his speech, but rather started with a chilling description of the murder of the district?s assistant CAO, Lilly Tadusia ? who he said had been found murdered in cold blood in her rented house in Gulu district.
The numbing entry to his speech had an effect on all the officials present at the embassy?s boardroom, with the Ambassador specifically looking touched.
The CAO told how the woman (a mother of five) had recently enrolled on a postgraduate diploma in public administration and management at the Gulu UMI campus. She was murdered when not at home.
?Every weekend she travelled from Adjumani to Gulu. She was renting there. But for this specific weekend, she was last seen on Friday in Adjumani. No witness saw her in Gulu.
?But when her landlord (in Gulu) smelt some foul odor emanating from her house and called the police they found her murdered in cold blood. She was alone in the house. She had a knife wound in her ribs and her arm had been broken, suggesting foul play. The police are still carrying out investigations,? said the CAO.
?She was the one supposed to be here today, addressing you, but we got communication on Sunday ? when we were celebrating Women?s Day ? that Lilly had been found murdered.?
The CAO said that they have looked for her children ? they were at school ? and taken them home. ?Because the body had stayed for about two and a half days it was discovered rotting. We have scheduled burial for tomorrow (Tuesday).?
When the CAO was through with the narration, no one else in the boardroom wanted to speak after him. The officials observed a moment of silence in memory of the woman.
At the function, the Japanese Ambassador signed grant contracts worth US$284,427 (about sh727m) going for improvement of education and health in Uganda, with representatives of the recipient organizations.
Dzaipi Secondary School in Adjumani was given $101, 605 (about sh296m) for the construction of a science laboratory block and procurement of furniture.
Ongongoja Secondary School in Katakwi district received $103,068 (about sh300m) for the same purpose as Dzaipi Secondary School ? for the construction of a science laboratory block and procurement of furniture plus science equipment.
And Ntungamo Heath Centre in Ntungamo municipality received $79,754 (sh232m) for the construction of a general inpatient ward and a latrine block and the procurement of medical equipment.
The Ambassador said the Japanese people were committed to supporting grassroot human security projects in Uganda to alleviate disease and poverty and to strengthen further the Japanese ties with Uganda.
?Science and mathematics are very important subjects. When we support students to learn the basic science knowledge and mathematics we are contributing to the sustainability of humanity.?
?Ntungamo Health Centre has only a maternity ward and a small clinic for outpatients. Other patients other than mothers and babies also need to be admitted in the maternity ward when the case is urgent,? said the Ambassador.
Jerome Amizaru, the head teacher Dzaipi Secondary School, said the construction of a science laboratory at the school would improve the standards and interest in science subjects by the leaners and create a conducive environment in the learning of the subjects.
By John Agaba, The New Vision
