By our reporter
Stephen Ejoku, the CEO of Ejoku Foundation and prospective LCV chairperson for Soroti district under the NRM Ticket in 2026, issued a heartfelt call to communities across the Teso sub-region to embrace compassionate and supportive strategies for sustaining orphans, rather than exploiting their vulnerability for personal gain.
Ejoku delivered this impassioned plea during the burial of the late Washington Esepu, laid to rest on April 24, 2024, at Akintu village, Omodoi parish, Ocokican subcounty in Soroti district. He lamented the prevalent practice among certain community members, particularly close relatives, of exploiting the death of family members as an opportunity to seize assets intended for orphaned children, including land, houses, and businesses.
“It’s truly disheartening and shameful to witness capable relatives stooping to such levels of greed and theft, depriving innocent orphans of what rightfully belongs to them,” Ejoku emphasized. “However, let it be known that such actions will not go unpunished, as they invite curses that can afflict both the perpetrators and their descendants in the long run.”
Ejoku’s stern admonition against exploiting the vulnerable resonated with attendees, sparking a conversation about the ethical responsibilities of family members towards orphaned children. As he prepares to assume the role of LCV chairperson for Soroti district, Ejoku’s advocacy for justice and compassion sets a promising precedent for future leadership in the region.