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 carrying out a community clean-up exercise at the health facility, along major roads in Pader Town Council and at Pader Main Market as part of efforts to give back to the community while celebrating Arsenal Football Club’s 2025/2026 Premier League title.

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 mobilize members to transform their communities through meaningful acts of service rather than simply watching games on television.

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 organized 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 compound before visiting the maternity ward. The fans then 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 in Pukor Sub-county.

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

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

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

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 carrying out a community clean-up exercise at the health facility, along major roads in Pader Town Council and at Pader Main Market as 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 mobilize members to transform their communities through meaningful acts of service rather than simply watching games on television.

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 organized 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 compound before visiting the maternity ward. The fans then 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 in Pukor Sub-county.

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

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

She thanked the Pader Town Council Arsenal Fans Association for remembering mothers in the maternity ward and prayed for continued success for Arsenal Football Club, 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 remarkable act of charity and commitment to improving sanitation in the municipality.

Ocen revealed that 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, a gesture he described as commendable.

He expressed his appreciation, noting that although the town council has a responsibility to maintain cleanliness, the voluntary effort demonstrated by the Arsenal supporters had set a good example of community participation.

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 organizing similar clean-up activities to ensure all parts of the municipality are kept clean and appealed to residents to actively participate in maintaining a healthy environment.

However, Ocen expressed concern over the continued indiscriminate disposal of garbage by some community members, saying waste is often dumped in unauthorized places while drainage channels continue to be blocked because of poor compliance with proper waste disposal practices. 

He urged residents to change their attitudes towards garbage management 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 other streets within the town council, and 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.