President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has eulogized the fallen Serere County MP, Patrick Okabe as a responsible leader who empowered the electorate.
In a message that was delivered by the Vice President, Jessica Alupo on his behalf during the burial of Okabe and his wife, Christine Okabe in Oburin Cell, Ochapa Town Council in Serere district on Saturday, Museveni said that Okabe diagnosed the issues affecting the electorate and initiated programs that empowered the people of Serere County.
It should be noted that Okabe established 160 savings groups in the constituency where each was given a savings box and seed capital of one million Shillings through the Okabe Foundation.
Okabe mobilized and trained girls and women- under the “Girl Brigade” on skills like tailoring, plumbing, carpentry and others to enable them support their families.
He often distributed seedlings, piglets and goats to women groups in all the constituency to help women fight poverty.
According to Museveni, such initiatives help members of the constituency to become self- reliant thus enable the country improve standards of living.
Throughout the eulogies made by different personalities, Okabe has been commended for his charitable work to the vulnerable and constituents.
The 64- year- old who has been in Parliament for seven years has also been at the helm of Impact Ministries headquartered in Mbale with more than 200 churches spread across the country.
He is the proprietor of Faith Radio and Voice of Serere located in Mbale and Serere districts respectively.
He also established Impact Junior School and orphanage in Mbale and Rhema High School in Soroti City which has since changed the name and ownership.
His brother, Stephen Ochola who represented the family said that Okabe shouldered responsibilities of all the family of 16 children born to Rev. Mesulam and Lucy Abilet.
“He was our strong pillar and unifier at home. We thank God for the gift of life and his providence to all of us,” he said infront of thousands of mourners gathered in Oburin where Okabe and his wife were laid to rest, side by side.
Okabe and his wife perished in an accident along Mbale – Tirinyi road on Monday morning as they traveled to Kampala ahead of a trip to the USA. The couple is survived by five children.