Africa-Press – Uganda. State Minister for Fisheries and Serere Woman Member of Parliament, Hellen Adoa, has pledged to position Serere District as a model for climate-smart agriculture and grassroots development as she seeks re-election in the 2026 general elections.
Speaking during a campaign engagement in Serere, Adoa said her third term would focus on piloting climate-resilient agricultural initiatives, supporting village-based savings groups, and introducing commercial coffee farming as a pathway to sustainable rural incomes.
“I want to pick 15 parishes across Serere and pilot coffee growing as a sustainable income-generating activity for our farmers,” Adoa told supporters.
“Teso has fertile soils, and with government support through the Ministry of Agriculture and World Bank-funded projects, we can transform lives.”
Adoa, who is running on the ruling NRM ticket, reflected on her previous terms in Parliament, stating that despite a prolonged legal battle that kept her in court for three years, she never paused her community mobilization work.
“Even when I was in court, I mobilized women into groups. I started Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs), and today we have successful women’s groups in Serere with bank accounts, livestock, and income from honey and other enterprises,” she said.
She stressed that her campaign continues to focus on empowering all demographics, especially women, youth, and men—whom she said have been slow to join government development initiatives.
“Unfortunately, men in Teso, especially in Serere, have been left behind. While women and youth are now embracing projects, many men are still not part of the transformation agenda,” Adoa said.
Adoa also criticized her political opponents for what she described as divisive politics and the exploitation of youth through alcohol and disorder.
“You find children below 18 drinking early in the morning and shouting at rallies. That’s not leadership,” she remarked.
“I’ve instructed my campaign team to promote peaceful engagement—go to the gardens early, return for rallies later. We want development, not conflict.”
She highlighted her long-standing commitment to education, noting that she began investing in girl-child education at just 23 years of age and has since expanded her efforts to include support for boys as well.
Adoa said she has contributed to the establishment of educational institutions across the Teso sub-region.
Taking a swipe at some of her challengers, Adoa accused them of investing outside the region and only showing up during election cycles.
“I have invested in Serere. I have a heart for my people. I don’t just appear during elections,” she said.
Adoa promised to continue advancing the NRM party’s manifesto while adding her own strategic priorities, including expanding coffee farming, strengthening local savings cooperatives, and rolling out climate-smart agricultural practices tailored to the district’s rural economy.
“Climate change is real. We need to act now,” she said. “I want to be the face of climate-smart agriculture in Serere.”
The minister is expected to begin implementation of her coffee pilot project this week, identifying initial parishes where the program will be rolled out as part of her broader grassroots campaign.
Adoa faces stiff competition from Easter Acom, Florence Iyogil, and Susan Apolot—all running as independents—as political temperatures rise in Serere ahead of the 2026 vote.
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