Pader Arsenal fans donate to mothers, lead community clean-up campaign

25 July 2026, 9:04 am

By Geoffrey Okwong

Members of the Pader Town Council Arsenal Fans Association have donated seven basins and bars of soap to mothers at Pader Health Centre III before conducting a community clean-up exercise at the health facility, along major roads in Pader Town Council, and at Pader Main Market.

The initiative was part of efforts to give back to the community while celebrating Arsenal Football Club’s 2025/2026 Premier League title.

Speaking by phone on Friday morning, the Chairperson of the Pader Town Council Arsenal Fans Association, Eng. Alex Oyet Labeja, said the initiative was inspired by the desire to demonstrate that football supporters can make a positive impact beyond watching matches.

Labeja said the association views football gatherings as an opportunity to mobilise members to transform their communities through meaningful acts of service rather than simply watching games.

He noted that the clean-up campaign also complements the government’s National Cleaning Day scheduled for Saturday, adding that community participation is essential in promoting a cleaner and healthier environment.

Labeja expressed hope that the outreach would inspire more individuals and organised groups to embrace charity work and volunteer whenever called upon to support their communities.

The day’s activities began with a clean-up exercise at Pader Health Centre III, where the supporters cleaned the facility’s compound before visiting the maternity ward. The fans later donated seven basins and bars of soap to mothers who had recently given birth.

Among the beneficiaries was Concy Akuu, 38, a resident of Aluka Village, Kalangore Parish, Pukor Sub-county.

Akuu expressed gratitude for the donation, saying it would help ease some of the financial burden on her family in the weeks ahead.

She said the basin and soap would be useful during the postnatal period, adding that the money she would have spent purchasing the items could now be used to meet other household needs.

Akuu thanked the Pader Town Council Arsenal Fans Association for remembering mothers in the maternity ward and wished Arsenal Football Club continued success, expressing hope that the team would win more trophies in the coming seasons.

Charles Ocen Oyo, the Health Inspector for Pader Town Council, commended the leadership of the Pader Town Council Arsenal Fans Association for their act of charity and commitment to improving sanitation in the municipality.

Ocen said the association’s chairperson had approached his office a few days earlier seeking permission and guidance to support the town council through a general clean-up exercise, describing the initiative as commendable.

He expressed appreciation for the gesture, noting that although the town council has a responsibility to maintain cleanliness, the voluntary efforts by the Arsenal supporters demonstrated the importance of community participation and set a positive example.

The Health Inspector further disclosed that, in line with a Ministry of Health circular, every local government is expected to conduct a general clean-up exercise at the end of each month as part of efforts to improve environmental sanitation and prevent disease outbreaks.

He said the town council would continue organising similar clean-up activities to ensure that all parts of the municipality remain clean, while appealing to residents to actively participate in maintaining a healthy environment.

However, Ocen expressed concern over the continued indiscriminate disposal of waste by some community members, saying rubbish is often dumped in unauthorised areas while drainage channels remain blocked due to poor compliance with proper waste management practices.

He urged residents to change their attitudes towards waste disposal and work together to keep Pader Town clean.

After completing the activities at Pader Health Centre III, the Arsenal supporters proceeded to Pader Town, where they conducted another clean-up exercise along the main road, several streets within the town council, and at Pader Main Market.

The exercise was aimed at promoting environmental cleanliness while encouraging residents and traders to maintain clean surroundings ahead of the National Cleaning Day.