President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the National Resistance Movement’s Presidential flag bearer, today appealed to the people of Kwania and the wider Lango sub-region to support him and the NRM in the 2026 Presidential elections.

The campaign is running under the theme: “Protecting the Gains, Making a Qualitative Leap into High Middle-Income Status.”

While addressing thousands of supporters at Aduku Town Council, he urged them to continue supporting the NRM government's work of transforming Uganda’s economy and lifting households out of poverty.

“I appeal to you to support the NRM and the NRM flag bearers and the old man with the hat so that we continue with this work and do more,” President Museveni said.

President Museveni also highlighted ongoing projects and strategies aimed at boosting local economic growth.

“We discovered oil in the Albertine region, and we are now laying the pipeline to pump it out of the ground. When our oil starts flowing, we shall be getting an extra $2 billion per year in addition to what we have been getting now. We shall be able to use them for roads, the railway, electricity, and the education system,” he said.

He cited the example of local communities still struggling with poor infrastructure and pledged to work on them.

“Like our people in Apoi, Apala, Adwari, and Baralegi, who are still suffering with that murram road, we shall be able to fix it quickly. And the road from Dokolo, Amolatar, and Namasale will also be improved.”

Highlighting the impact of local entrepreneurship on wealth creation, President Museveni showcased a model farmer Mr. Joel Okello from Amolatar.

He said: “Okello is not in Asia, Europe, or America. He is from here in the North, earning shs. 280m annually after deducting costs. You may say Okello is educated and an engineer and has money, but there are educated people who don’t do what Okello is doing.”

President Museveni reminded the audience of the NRM’s philosophy since the 1960s.

“The message of the NRM from the 1960s is not to use the people for politics but to show them how to transform their lives, so that you move away from poverty. Now you have the money,” he said.

He further encouraged citizens to engage in wealth creation.

“Chase poverty from your homes and do it by bringing something that will put food on your table and money in your pocket. The government has already given you the means through the PDM; shs. 100m per parish per year. In five years, that is shs. 500m in one parish. In the third year, those who started first give back to the SACCO. The money will never return to the government; it will remain at the parish,” he added.

On fisheries, President Museveni emphasized organized support.

“We are going to start a SACCO for fishermen because fishing requires more money than PDM. We also need to do a lot of fish farming. Individuals cannot do it alone because it requires more capital. The government will facilitate the fishponds,” he said.

He also announced targeted funds for religious leaders, saying: “We shall start funds for dioceses and sheikhs. This is not for ordinary citizens; it’s just for leaders, and it will not be annual.”

President Museveni also emphasized participation in wealth creation among Ugandans.

“When it comes to wealth creation, we don’t want spectators. With football or athletics, you have sportspeople and spectators, but with wealth creation, everyone must be a player,” he noted.

On livestock programs, President Museveni explained a new initiative for cattle compensation in Northern Uganda.

“Recently I called some of your leaders and asked why we don’t have a democratic formula for restocking. I suggested five cows to each homestead. The majority supported it. I have already received consent from leaders in Teso and Lango, and I am now instructing the government to plan for it because it is a big project. Northern Uganda will benefit from five cows per homestead,” he added.

Development Progress in Kwania District:

Kwania District, comprising 11 Sub-Counties/Town Councils, 49 Parishes, and 447 villages, is home to a population of 216,125, according to the 2024 census. Over the years, government programs have targeted economic empowerment, education, and compensation for war-affected communities.

Under the Parish Development Model, Kwania has received a cumulative shs. 15.05bn and 21,593 households have benefited.

Out of the district’s 48,861 households, 27,249 remain in the subsistence economy, leaving 27,268 households yet to benefit from the program, according to UBOS 2024.

Emyooga SACCOs:

The district hosts 36 Emyooga SACCOs made up of 447 parish-based associations with 10,656 members. These SACCOs have received shs. 1.16 billion in seed capital from the government, and collectively, members have saved over shs. 420 million, supporting local businesses and community investments.

Education:

Kwania has 29 government primary schools. The district also has seven government secondary schools, providing Universal Secondary Education (USE) and Post-Ordinary Level Education and Training (POLET), with a total enrollment of 4,031 students.

Cattle Compensation:

Between FY 2021/2022 and 2024/2025, the government released a cumulative shs. 139.49bn out of a planned shs. 200bn to compensate war debt claimants in the Acholi, Lango, and Teso sub-regions. Breakdown of payments includes:

Acholi: 3,993 claimants received shs. 37.43bn

Lango: 10,549 claimants received shs. 43.02bn

Teso: 10,038 claimants received shs. 55.79bn

The event was also graced by NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) members, Members of Parliament, religious and cultural leaders, among others.