PRESIDENT MUSEVENI UNVEILS INDIVIDUALIZED WATER PLAN FOR WEALTH CREATORS IN KARAMOJA, PLEDGES MORE ROADS, SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has unveiled a new government initiative to establish individualized water systems aimed at supporting commercial farmers and small-scale producers, as part of a broader effort to eradicate poverty through wealth creation and self-sufficiency. Addressing thousands of supporters during a campaign rally at Kalas Girls Primary School in Amudat District, Karamoja Sub-region, on Tuesday 28th October, 2025, H.E. Museveni said the government was developing a plan to ensure every productive household has access to reliable water for production, a move he said would mark a turning point in Uganda’s rural transformation strategy. “We are working out a plan for water for rural areas. Apart from the valley dams, people need water at each home,” President Museveni said. “The communal water systems will not address their water problem. We are trying to analyze how we can provide individualized water for wealth creators. In the Ankole area, we no longer use those communal dams. If you come to Rwakitura, you will see I have three of my own dams because animals, when they go too far, they get diseases like ticks,” he added. The new policy seeks to end decades of dependency on shared water facilities in semi-arid regions like Karamoja, where boreholes and valley dams are often overstretched or dry up during prolonged droughts. “Borehole water is still very low at 18%. The Minister of Karamoja must find out what the problem is, because in other districts like Abim and Karenga, the percentage is much higher,” President Museveni said. Government data indicates that only 18% of Amudat District’s 415 villages currently have access to safe water, leaving 81.7% without a clean source. Of the existing water-for-production infrastructure, one solar-powered irrigation system has been completed at Katotin, 12 valley tanks have been constructed, and two wind-powered abstraction systems have been installed. Major recent projects include the Kosike Valley Dam, with a capacity of 2.7 billion litres, and the Kaechom Valley Dam, which holds 1.8 billion litres. Ongoing projects include additional solar-powered irrigation systems and a large valley tank under construction. The Lowoyakur Dam, shared with Nakapiripirit, will hold 1.4 billion litres of water once completed. Peace as the foundation of development: Throughout his address, President Museveni emphasized that peace, the first of seven core achievements highlighted in the NRM’s 2026–2031 manifesto, remains the cornerstone of Uganda’s development. “If you want to know that miracles are possible in Africa, come to Karamoja and come to Amudat. I thank God for making me somehow connected to that miracle,” President Museveni said, while revisiting Uganda’s turbulent past. He explained how the National Resistance Movement (NRM) restored peace and national unity after decades of instability, where, before 1986, Uganda’s electoral and administrative systems were poorly aligned, leading to marginalization in areas like Karamoja. “Before the coming into power of NRM, there were no permanent constituencies. They would just make ad hoc constituencies to favor certain parties. In 1989, we decided that each constituency must be equal to a county. At that time, there were 149 counties in the whole of Uganda, and something called Upe was one of them with a population of only 20,000. Some of the counties in the south, like Bukoto, had 360,000 people. But we said that for now, let’s start with the counties, and that’s how Upe became a constituency,” President Museveni said. He highlighted Amudat’s recognition as a district stemming from the government’s respect for cultural and linguistic diversity. “These people are Pokot, and their language is different from Karamojong. Let them have their district and speak their Pokot language there. When I come today and see that the population of Amudat has grown to 203,000, I say this is a miracle,” President Museveni said. Disarmament and border security: President Museveni credited Uganda’s peace to firm decisions such as the disarmament of Karamojong warriors in the early 2000s. He dismissed arguments that communities in Karamoja and neighboring Turkana, Pokot, or Toposa areas should be allowed to keep guns to “balance terror.” “Some said if Karamojong and Turkana both stay with guns, they will stabilize by killing each other. But why have a government if people must protect themselves?” he asked. “And this was a false argument because, like in West Nile, there’s peace, despite the wars in South Sudan and Congo, West Nile is peaceful. Even Kasese and Bundibugyo are peaceful, yet there are wars in Eastern DRC. So, that’s when I insisted that you bring the guns; I will protect you against the Pokot of Kenya, Turkana of Kenya, and others,” President Museveni added, noting that when the Turkana killed three people, including surveyors, he banned them from grazing in Uganda. President Museveni said he had since raised the issue with Kenya’s President William Ruto, demanding that the Kenyan government compensate the victims’ families. “I could not accept this impunity of criminality. I told President Ruto that if these criminals don’t have money, the Kenyan government must pay. I will perform a ceremony in Karamoja here with President Ruto for the Kenyan government to pay for the lives of our officers who died,” President Museveni said, adding that the ceremony will also attract elders to cleanse the blood of the people who died, and the bishops and the sheikhs will also come in and contribute spiritually. Turning to infrastructure, President Museveni vowed to ensure all major roads in Karamoja remain passable year-round. “I have warned the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Local Government that I don’t want to hear of a major road that is impassable. It may not be tarmac, but it must be motorable all the time,” he said. Recent road achievements in Karamoja include 180.4 km of newly paved roads, such as Nadunget–Iriiri (65.6 km), Kokeris–Matany (5.5 km), Namalu–Nakapiripirit (17 km), and Akisim–Moroto–Lokitanyala (92.3 km). Currently under construction are the Moroto–Lokitanyala (42 km) and Muyembe–Nakapiripirit (92 km) roads. Several other routes are under procurement, including Kaabong–Kapedo–Karenga (67 km) and Kotido–Kaabong (64 km), while the Moroto–Tochi–Atiang–Opit–Awo (94 km) and Kotido–Abim–Aloi–Lira (99 km) roads are under design. President Museveni said the government would also tarmac the Nakapiripirit–Amudat road, a key artery for trade and connectivity in the region. President Museveni reaffirmed the NRM government’s commitment to universal access to education, saying the ultimate goal is to ensure one primary school per parish and one secondary school per sub-county. Currently, Amudat District has 27 government primary schools, 8 private primary schools, 2 government secondary schools, and 1 private secondary school. Out of 44 parishes, only 11 host at least one government primary school. However, three new Seed Secondary Schools are under construction, which will reduce the number of sub-counties without a government secondary school from 9 to 6. The President said he intends to abolish the practice of charging fees in government schools, calling it an injustice against poor families. “When we introduced UPE in 1996, we wanted children to study for free. But school managers started bringing money again,” he said, adding that in the coming government, he would like to stop the charging of fees in government schools. In the health sector, President Museveni noted that Amudat District currently has one Health Centre IV and three Health Centre IIIs, leaving seven sub-counties without any health facility. To close this gap, the government plans to upgrade and construct several facilities, including: Upgrading Karita HCIV to a General Hospital, upgrading Abilyep HCII, Achorichor HCII, Amudat HCII, Cheptapoyo HCII, and Lokales HCII to HCIIIs and constructing new HCIIIs in Karita and Kongoro sub-counties. Ongoing works include the upgrading of Katabok HCII to HCIII, Karita HCIII to HCIV, and the construction of an operating theatre at Amudat General Hospital. President Museveni used the rally to reinforce his message of wealth creation, urging residents to use the Parish Development Model (PDM) and other government programs to lift themselves out of poverty. He played video testimonials of beneficiaries who have prospered under the PDM, including: George Matongo, a livestock farmer in Ngoma; Dick Korea Ogila, a mango farmer from Abim earning over Shs6 million per harvest; Amos Losengole, a goat farmer from Amudat who invested his Shs1 million PDM fund wisely; and Emmanuel Lokong, a piggery farmer from Nakapiripirit. President Museveni said the government would soon provide vehicles to cooperatives to help farmers transport goods to urban markets. Amudat District has so far received Shs13.49 billion under the PDM, of which Shs13.1 billion (97.2%) has been disbursed to 12,118 households, about 28.6% of the district’s 42,310 households. “We shall support cooperatives with group transport to access Kampala markets,” H.E. Museveni pledged. President Museveni told residents that Uganda’s transformation from instability to peace and development over the last 40 years is a testament to the NRM’s resilience. “Now we have peace not only in Karamoja but also in Acholi, West Nile, the Rwenzori, and Kisoro. There’s peace everywhere,” he said. He urged voters to defend the gains made under the NRM government by ensuring continued support for the party in the upcoming 2026 elections. “If anybody asks you why you support NRM, tell them that in our manifesto of 2026–2031, peace is our first contribution. It is the foundation upon which everything else stands,” President Museveni said. First Lady Janet Museveni calls for 100% NRM vote: The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, also addressed the rally, commending the people of Amudat and Karamoja for their steadfast support of the NRM. “The NRM government is your government. It has worked so hard to make sure that Karamoja is peaceful, like any other part of Uganda. Please make it a responsibility to make sure that everybody votes for NRM so that we protect the gains so far and take a qualitative leap into the middle-income status for the whole of Karamoja and Uganda,” The First Lady said, adding that this would enable all the programs in the pipeline to be implemented in the next term of office. “Therefore, I trust that even this time, you’ll make sure that Amudat will vote 100% for the President and the whole lineup of NRM flagbearers,” she added. Amudat District, with a population of 203,358 people, had 43,647 registered voters in the 2021 elections. Of these, 31,453 (72.1%) voted, and President Museveni secured 30,451 votes (97.6%), while the National Unity Platform (NUP) polled 625 votes (2%). As of 2025, registered voters in the district have risen to 58,203, and the number of polling stations has increased from 120 to 164. The event was also addressed by several senior leaders, including Speaker of Parliament and Second National Vice Chairperson, Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, NRM Vice Chairperson for Karamoja, Hon. John Baptist Loki, and NRM Secretary General, Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong, who urged residents to maintain their loyalty to the ruling party and consolidate the progress achieved under President Museveni’s leadership.

2025-11-28

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI HOLDS RADIO TALK SHOW WITH JOURNALISTS IN TESO

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni yesterday held a radio talk show with journalists from across the Teso Sub-region at State Lodge, Soroti. During the discussion, the President reflected on the achievements of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and outlined the key contributions that have transformed Uganda under its leadership. He began by emphasizing that peace remains the foundation of all progress. “If you want to talk about people’s ability to bring peace, the reason for peace is first of all to have good politics — politics of interest, not politics of identity,” he said. “The past political parties based their interests on tribes and religion. One of the reasons we were able to create peace is that we rejected that kind of politics. Because of peace, we have been able to build strong national institutions like the army, police, and intelligence services, where we do not look at one’s tribe. Therefore, the number one contribution of the NRM is peace, which has led to all these things.” President Museveni noted that the second contribution of the NRM is development. “You have all seen what the NRM has done — the roads, electricity, hospitals, and schools,” he said. He added that the third contribution is wealth creation, which is often misunderstood. “Many people have been confusing development with wealth creation,” he explained. “Yes, development like roads and electricity is good, but wealth creation is vital for an individual because development is ours, while wealth creation is for the individual.” The President highlighted job creation as the fourth major contribution by the NRM government. “We have told you that jobs come from commercial agriculture, Industry, ICT, and services,” he said, adding that individuals must embrace these opportunities to improve their livelihoods. The fifth contribution, he said, is expanding markets. “Our internal market is not enough, and so we need the East African market,” he said. “Now we have almost a surplus of everything — for example, there is a fruit factory here in Soroti, the Teju Fruit Factory. So if people in Teso, Lango, and Acholi all wake up and plant fruits and our internal market is not enough, where shall we sell our fruits? Therefore, the markets of East Africa and Africa are crucial, and leaders need to talk about this. He also emphasized political integration as an essential part of Uganda’s future growth and unity. On the issue of cattle restocking, President Museveni said he had engaged the government on the matter and that local communities in Teso, Acholi, and Lango had agreed to his proposal. “I talked to the government, and the local communities of Teso, Acholi, and Lango have agreed to my idea of five cows per homestead,” he said. “The next thing is now to start the process, and I assure you it will happen. It may take time, but it will happen.” Turning to NRM candidates contesting as independents, President Museveni said the practice is politically harmful. “Politically, it is bad for an NRM candidate to contest as an independent because you put the official NRM flag bearer at a disadvantage and give their opponent a chance to win,” he said. “It is really criminal and politically bankrupt. Even when they are only NRM, it is bad, yet there is a better way — because our primaries were like a trap since people line up behind the candidates in full glare of everyone. So if someone alters results and you have your reliable agents bring the proof, we shall find out and arrest those involved.” On the Parish Development Model (PDM), the President promised to increase funding once implementation shows consistent progress. “The important thing is for it to work. Now that there is progress with PDM, we shall increase it.” Regarding the creation of new administrative units, he said the government must balance priorities. “It is okay to create new districts, but we must deal with the issue of prioritization,” he said. “What is more important — to build a road for the people or to give a new district? The districts will be granted, but prioritization is key because when the road is bad, it affects many people.” On education, President Museveni expressed concern over the continued charging of fees in government schools despite his call for free education. “I now want a consensus. I wonder why people have not agreed to my idea of free education. It is the reason I established skilling hubs — to show everyone that children can get free education at zero cost.” He also announced plans to establish a graduates’ fund to support young people who have completed university but lack employment. “The graduates’ fund will also be accessed at parish level.These graduates — their parents have invested a lot of money in paying school fees, and so they need a fund to help them start their journey.” The NRM Vice Chairperson for Eastern Uganda, Mr. Calvin Echodu, thanked the President for what he described as an enlightening discussion on the NRM Manifesto and its core contributions to Uganda’s progress.

2025-11-05

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI CONCLUDES CAMPAIGN TRAIL IN TESO WITH GRAND RALLY IN BUKEDEA

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni today concluded his Presidential campaign trail in the Teso Sub-region with a grand rally at Emokori A Cell, Emokori Ward, Bukedea Town Council in Bukedea District. Addressing a mammoth crowd, President Museveni thanked the people of Bukedea for their unwavering support to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and for standing firmly behind the Speaker of Parliament and NRM Second National Vice Chairperson, Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among. He described her re-election as a clear demonstration of the people’s confidence in tested leadership. “I want to thank you, the people of Bukedea, for supporting Anita Among and showing how shallow and bogus NUP is. The lady who was put to contest against her was even her relative, but they didn’t know. I congratulate Anita Among,” President Museveni said. The President reminded the gathering that the first major contribution of the NRM is peace, recalling his days in the bush when he used to camp in the area. “Because of the correct ideology, we were able to end all these wars. That is how Uganda has become an island of peace, hosting millions of refugees from our brother countries,” he said. He emphasized that the second contribution of the NRM is development, citing major achievements in economic infrastructure such as roads, electricity, and telecommunications. “You people of Bukedea, once we complete all these roads, Teso will be fully connected to Karamoja. Electricity is already here — almost every sub-county in Bukedea now has power. Bukedea Town Council has electricity, Kachumbala has electricity, and the remaining sub-counties will be connected in the coming government,” he assured. On water, the President said the government’s plan is to ensure every parish in Bukedea has access to clean water. “The big plan we have is the Lake Kyoga Gravity Flow Scheme, which will cover Ngora, Kumi, Katakwi, Bukedea, and Kapelebyong. Teso is easy to deal with because it’s flat — the water will be pumped by gravity,” he explained. He added that 80 percent of Bukedea’s rural villages already have access to safe water, with two major piped water systems — Bukedea Town Council and Kachumbala Town — completed, serving more than 28,000 people combined. “We are drilling new boreholes, rehabilitating old ones, and protecting springs to increase access. Our target is 100 percent coverage,” the President said. He further revealed that new piped water systems are being developed in Aloet and Amus Towns, and the Bukedea Gravity Flow Scheme, which will serve both Bukedea and Kween districts, is underway. The President also highlighted ongoing water-for-production projects such as the Acomai Irrigation Scheme, valley dams, and small-scale irrigation systems in Komuge and Malera Sub-counties to boost agricultural productivity. On education, President Museveni reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensure every parish has a government primary school and every sub-county has a government secondary school. “Bukedea now has 98 government primary schools and nine government secondary schools. However, 96 parishes still lack a government primary school, and 10 sub-counties do not have a secondary school. We are addressing this through the construction of new Seed Secondary Schools,” he said. He noted that two new Seed Secondary Schools are currently under construction in Bukedea and that Bukedea Secondary School will be rehabilitated under the programme for traditional schools. On health, the President reported that Bukedea District has two Health Centre IVs and nine Health Centre IIIs, with plans to expand coverage. “We shall upgrade Aminit Health Centre II to Health Centre III and construct new health centres in Komuge, Aligoi, Kwarikwar, and Koena sub-counties. We shall also continue with immunization, ensure drugs are tracked using ICT, and build houses for health workers,” he said. He added that the government will continue improving service delivery by equipping all health units with modern diagnostic tools and medical supplies, while sustaining efforts to eradicate malaria and other preventable diseases. On transport, President Museveni mentioned the Tororo–Gulu–Pakwach railway line, which will boost regional trade and connect Teso to northern Uganda and other parts of the country. Turning to wealth creation, President Museveni reminded the people that while development is essential, household wealth is even more important. “Development is good, but wealth creation is what transforms a family. You don’t need tarmac roads to succeed. We have examples of people who listened to my message on wealth creation and are thriving even in remote areas,” he said. He noted that government programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga were designed to help people transition from poverty to prosperity, and more support will continue to flow. “In the case of Teso, Acholi, and Lango, the government will resume restocking by giving each household five cows as compensation for the cattle they lost during the wars and cattle rustling,” he announced. The President also highlighted job creation as another key NRM achievement. “Where do jobs come from? They come from wealth creation — in commercial agriculture, manufacturing, and services like hotels. When we create wealth, we create jobs,” he emphasized. Concluding his address, President Museveni made a passionate appeal for free education in all government schools. “I started this program in 1996, but some head teachers continue to charge fees in government schools. That’s why I started skilling hubs where children are trained for six months for free,” he said. “I would like NRM people to notice three things: one, children are dropping out because of school fees; two, when I started skilling hubs, those children became productive within six months; and three, they are now producing items we used to import from China. That is why I urge all NRM leaders to stop fees in government schools,” he stressed. The Vice President, H.E. Jessica Alupo, thanked the President for dedicating time to the Teso Sub-region during his campaign and reaffirmed the region’s unwavering support for the NRM. The Second National Vice Chairperson (NRM), Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, hailed the President for the prevailing peace and harmony in Teso, thanking him for ending wars and cattle rustling. She pledged overwhelming support for President Museveni in the coming election, calling for a block vote for him and all NRM candidates. Mr. Epilo Isaac, the NRM Chairperson for Bukedea District, expressed gratitude to the President for the enormous development projects implemented under his leadership and pledged 99.99 percent support for him in the forthcoming election.

2025-11-05

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI URGES FARMERS TO GROW RICE SAFELY AS HE COMMISSIONS SHS71 BILLION ACHOMAI IRRIGATION SCHEME

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today commissioned a Shs71 billion Achomai Irrigation Scheme in Kamutur Sub-county, Bukedea District, with a call to farmers to embrace irrigation-based rice growing on dry land rather than wetlands, in order to safeguard the environment while increasing agricultural productivity. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony attended by local leaders, residents, and government officials, the President expressed delight over the project’s completion, describing it as a significant step towards agricultural modernization and water management in the Teso and Bugisu sub-regions. “I’m very happy to be here to commission this Achomai irrigation scheme,” President Museveni said. “I don’t eat rice myself; I eat cassava and bananas and our indigenous foods, but some of our people eat rice, so it’s good to grow it, but grow it safely, not in the swamp. You should take water from the swamp to the dry land and then irrigate,” H.E. Museveni added. He cautioned farmers against cultivating rice in wetlands, explaining that such practices destroy the ecosystem and interfere with nature’s balance. “I don’t want rice in the swamp (Osamai). I want it in the Aroo (dry land), and then you irrigate. That is good because you’re now helping God to make rain. You’re creating rain in months when God is not bringing it. That is healthy and very good,” he emphasized. The President underscored the dual benefits of irrigation - boosting yields and taming floods, through effective water capture and management systems. “When you irrigate, you yield and produce more per hectare, but there is also another element of taming the floods and water from destroying everything. When you make a dam, you capture water from the surface and retain it somewhere, and then you can use it by pumping when you want,” he said. According to President Museveni, the Achomai Irrigation Scheme symbolizes the government’s broader strategy of transforming subsistence farming into commercial agriculture by enhancing productivity per acre through technology and infrastructure. “The result of all this is increased production from the same land, but you harvest more,” he said. The Speaker of Parliament and Woman Member of Parliament for Bukedea District, Rt. Hon. Annet Anita Among hailed President Museveni for fulfilling his development pledge to the people of Bukedea, describing the project as a dream turned into reality. “These people are excited to see you, Your Excellency,” she said. “Before you brought this dam here, I used to think it was a myth. Now I’m seeing it in reality. This place used to flood, but now we have a fully-fledged irrigation scheme serving nine villages - seven from Bukedea and two from Bulambuli. I want to thank you for also working on the road, which now makes it easy for us to cross into Bulambuli. These are the gains we are protecting,” she added. Rt. Hon. Among, who launched the construction of the project on December 18, 2021, by then as the Deputy Speaker, praised the contractor, Dott Services Limited, for delivering quality work. “They’ve done a very good job. You’ve commissioned the Achomai Irrigation Scheme and the breeding center that’s just in the next village. As the people of Bukedea, we thank you,” she said, adding that the President’s visit had turned the day into a “public holiday” for the district. Engineer Athanasius Ssebugwawo, the Contract Manager for the Achomai Irrigation Scheme, explained that the project was implemented under the Agricultural Value Chain Development Programme (AVCP), a government initiative supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB). The program aims to improve access to water for agricultural production, boost productivity, and enhance post-harvest handling and value addition. He revealed that before the project’s inception, Achomai and the surrounding areas faced extreme climatic conditions - droughts during dry seasons and severe floods during rainy seasons due to their low-lying terrain. “During the dry season, it would experience the worst droughts; we could hardly see anything green. And during the rainy season, it would flood, and the area was hardly inhabitable,” Eng. Ssebugwawo said. He noted that with the project’s completion, the community’s fortunes had changed dramatically, and the issue of excess floods is history. “People now produce different crops throughout the year, and livelihoods have improved,” he said. According to the engineer, more than 1,800 acres were planted and harvested in the last season, with projections to expand to 2,000 acres in the next planting cycle. “People now have the right to plant whichever kind of crop they want,” Eng. Ssebugwawo explained. The Achomai Irrigation Scheme sits on approximately 2,200 hectares in Achomai Village, Kamutur Sub-county, Bukedea District, and extends into neighboring Bulambuli District. It includes key facilities such as an administration block, two drying yards, a warehouse, workshop, bridge, and 58 kilometers of access roads. The Shs71 billion ($19.9 million) investment was jointly funded by the Government of Uganda and the African Development Bank, and is part of the national agenda to enhance the agricultural value chain, from production to processing and market access. The commissioning of the Achomai Irrigation Scheme came as President Museveni wrapped up his Teso sub-region tour and began his campaign rallies in the Bugisu sub-region ahead of the 2026 general elections, where he is the Presidential flagbearer of the National Resistance Movement (NRM). Throughout the tour, the President has emphasized irrigation and value addition as key pillars of his vision to transition Uganda from a peasant to a middle-income economy.

2025-11-05

NGORA: PRESIDENT MUSEVENI RALLIES NGORA TO BACK NRM FOR CONTINUED WEALTH CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called upon the people of Ngora District and Teso Sub-region to continue supporting the National Resistance Movement (NRM) to sustain the country’s peace, stability, and economic transformation programs. President Museveni, who is also the NRM presidential flag bearer in the 2026 general elections, made the appeal on Tuesday 4th, November, 2025, while addressing thousands of supporters in Ngora District on his vote-hunting trail across the Teso sub-region. He said the NRM government has over the years proved its capacity to move Ugandans out of poverty through consistent investment in peace, infrastructure, and wealth creation initiatives that empower citizens to create income and build prosperity. “Politics is not about the words of politicians just talking. The politics of NRM is about solving people’s problems by showing them the way and assisting them in every possible way,” President Museveni said. The President said the NRM has, since its inception, emphasized practical solutions to poverty through programs such as Entandikwa, NAADS, Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), Emyooga, Women Fund, Youth Fund, and the Parish Development Model (PDM) — the latest in a chain of government-backed livelihood programs targeting the grassroots. President Museveni assured the people that as long as Ugandans keep supporting the NRM, such empowerment programs would not only continue but also expand. “All these programs are meant for you to get out of poverty. If you support NRM, we shall continue,” he said. “On PDM, we shall add another 15 million shillings onto the Shs100 million cash per parish. We shall create a fund for fishermen, another for religious leaders, cultural institutions, and for university graduates who have failed to get jobs after two years or more,” H.E. Museveni emphasized. Peace: NRM’s first contribution Reflecting on the historical background of the Teso region, President Museveni reminded the people of Ngora of the dark days of rebellion and insecurity that once characterized their lives before NRM restored peace. He narrated that during the insurgencies of the late 1980s and early 1990s, he had his military camp near the Nyero Rocks and commanded decisive battles against rebels in areas such as Kongoro and Kanyu, leading to the defeat of Alice Lakwena’s Holy Spirit Movement. “You people of Ngora and Kumi are witnesses to what was happening here. Those were difficult times, but together we managed to get peace. That’s why we no longer have internally displaced people’s camps. It was the NRM, together with the people, that brought this peace,” Gen. Museveni said, adding that peace remains the cornerstone of development and the reason Ugandans can now engage in productive work and education. President Museveni cited major improvements in infrastructure as the second pillar of NRM’s contribution to Uganda’s transformation, noting that the region has seen substantial progress in both economic and social infrastructure. He highlighted ongoing efforts to improve the road network linking Ngora to neighboring districts, saying the Kumi–Ngora–Serere–Kagwara road has already been secured and awaits a contractor to commence construction. “Our former battleground is now a place of development. The tarmac roads now reach up to Kumi, Soroti, Lango, and even Karamoja,” President Museveni noted. He thanked local leaders for supporting government programs that ensure efficient implementation of infrastructure projects across Teso. On energy, candidate Museveni reported that Ngora District is now connected to the national electricity grid, with nearly all sub-counties receiving power supply. On water access, the President noted that out of 146 villages in Ngora District, 131 villages (representing 90%) have access to safe water. He said the remaining 15 villages would soon be connected through new water projects. Major achievements include the Gawa Small-Scale Irrigation Project in Kobwin Sub-County covering 12 acres, rehabilitation of 7 boreholes and 11 water sources, and the construction of 4 piped water systems powered by solar energy in Mukura Sub-County. Ongoing projects include the construction of a solar-powered water supply system in Olilim Village, Mukura Sub-County, while planned works will include the Mukura Town Council piped water supply system and the ambitious Lake Kyoga Multi-purpose Gravity Flow Scheme, which will serve Ngora, Serere, Kumi, and Bukedea districts. “We are going to pump water from Lake Kyoga to supply all these areas. It will be easy because the land is flat,” H.E. Museveni explained. Expanding Education Access: President Museveni emphasized that the NRM government remains committed to providing free education for all children, a program that began in 1996. He decried the continued charging of school fees in government-aided institutions, calling it a betrayal of the spirit of Universal Primary and Secondary Education. Ngora District currently has 59 government primary schools, 56 private primary schools, 6 government secondary schools, and 26 private secondary schools. The district has 73 parishes, of which 48 host at least one government primary school, while 25 parishes still lack one. The President said the government’s target is to ensure every parish has a government primary school and every sub-county a secondary school. Construction of a Seed Secondary School in Ngora is ongoing, and upon completion, the number of sub-counties without a government secondary school will reduce from six to five. Traditional institutions like Ngora High School and Ngora School for the Deaf will also undergo rehabilitation under the education infrastructure development plan. He also cited his Presidential Skilling Hubs, including one in Soroti, which skill youth in practical trades such as furniture making, metal fabrication, and textile production. “These youths are now earning money by producing what we used to import,” he noted. Turning to the health sector, President Museveni said that of the 11 sub-counties in Ngora, one currently hosts a Health Centre IV, while six have Health Centre IIIs, leaving five sub-counties without any public health facility. He announced ongoing and planned projects to close that gap, including upgrading Opot HCII in Opot Sub-County to HCIII, upgrading Atoot HCII to HCIII, and the construction of new HCIIIs in Agirigiroi, Morukakise, and Ngora sub-counties. Ongoing works include fencing Mukura HCIII, building an immunization shade, and constructing a twin staff house to support medical personnel. President Museveni said expanding access to health and education is part of the NRM’s social contract to ensure every Ugandan lives a dignified life. However, the President reminded the people of Ngora to distinguish between development (which benefits all citizens collectively) and wealth creation (which is personal and household-based). “The school and health centre are for all of us, but what is private and personal is either wealth or poverty. You must engage in income-generating activities to chase poverty from your homes,” H.E. Museveni explained. He emphasized the four key wealth-creation sectors, commercial agriculture, manufacturing/artisanship, services (transport, etc.), and ICT, urging every Ugandan to actively participate in at least one of them. President Museveni showcased a success story of Joseph Ijala from Serere District, who ventured into commercial poultry and dairy farming. “When I visited him, he was earning three million shillings a day from eggs and selling 300 litres of milk daily,” he said. “Now he earns six million shillings from eggs and Shs800,000 from milk - that is 6.8 million shillings a day, or over two billion shillings a year. This man is deep inside Serere, not near a tarmac road, but wealth is there,” President Museveni said. He commended the performance of the Parish Development Model in Ngora District, which has 73 parishes and has so far received Shs 22.4 billion. Out of this, Shs 22.395 billion (99.93%) has already been disbursed to 22,395 beneficiary households, covering 69.3% of all households in the district. Those yet to benefit total 9,926 households (30.7%), including some already engaged in the money economy. Under the Emyooga program, Ngora has 36 SACCOs with 7,509 members, and the government has disbursed Shs 1.68 billion to support them. Cattle Restocking and Compensation: Addressing the long-standing issue of cattle loss during insurgencies in Teso, Lango, and Acholi, President Museveni said the government has finalized a new uniform compensation strategy. “When we got peace, we started restocking, but along the way, some lawyers went to court and caused confusion. We spent Shs 159 billion, but the money didn’t reach the ground,” President Museveni revealed. He said the new plan will compensate each affected household with five cows as a flat rate to ensure fairness and efficiency. “We are therefore adopting that plan for the area of Teso, Lango, and Acholi. In addition to the other measures, they will continue, but we shall also add on this one. So, it is time for all of you to get out of poverty,” President Museveni said. The NRM Second National Vice Chairperson and Speaker of Parliament, Rt.Hon. Anita Annet Among welcomed President Museveni to Ngora, describing it as one of the most peaceful districts in the Teso Sub-region. She thanked the President for allocating Shs 1 billion for road rehabilitation in Ngora, which she said has been properly utilized. Rt. Hon. Among also commended the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) route from Tororo to Gulu that passes through Ngora, saying it will boost trade and connectivity for local communities. The NRM Vice Chairperson for Eastern Region, Mr. Calvin Echodu hailed the district’s leadership for being the first in Teso to establish an NRM office, calling it a symbol of the party’s grassroots strength. Ngora District NRM Chairperson, Hon. Okello John Michael commended President Museveni for maintaining peace and spearheading development programs like PDM and Emyooga, which he said are transforming livelihoods. He also relayed community requests for a technical school, a district hospital, and additional tarmacked roads. Ngora’s Political Outlook: According to the 2024 census, Ngora District has a population of 213,777 people, spread across 11 sub-counties/town councils, 73 parishes, and 146 villages. In the 2021 presidential elections, Ngora had 72,976 registered voters, of whom 44,943 (60.6%) turned up to vote. President Museveni polled 24,662 votes (57.1%), while Patrick Oboi Amuriat (FDC) got 14,618 (33.8%), NUP’s candidate 2,237 (5.2%), and others shared 1,657 (3.9%). By 2025, Ngora’s voter register has grown to 85,696, with 200 polling stations, up from 121 in 2021, reflecting significant voter mobilization ahead of the 2026 general elections. The rally, which drew thousands of enthusiastic supporters, was attended by several senior government officials, NRM Central Executive Committee members, ministers, and Members of Parliament from across the Teso Sub-region.

2025-11-04

KUMI: PRESIDENT MUSEVENI HAILS TESO FOR SUSTAINING PEACE

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, also the NRM Presidential flag bearer, has commended the people of Teso Sub-region for standing firmly with the government during the struggle to restore peace and stability in Uganda. Speaking at a campaign rally held at Wiggins Secondary School playground in Kumi Town today, the President recalled his early interactions with the people of Teso, noting their vital role in ending insurgency and bringing peace to the region. “I salute the people of Teso because they worked with the army to bring peace in this part of the world,” President Museveni said. “When I camped at Nyero Rocks, I told the people to build a full primary school there. That’s how, working together with the people, we were able to bring peace. Of course, NRM brought peace because of our correct politics and ideology.” The President said that peace laid the foundation for development, highlighting the subsequent growth of infrastructure such as electricity, roads, railways, and clean water systems. “After peace, came development; the electricity, the telephones, the railway, and the water systems. That is all part of economic infrastructure,” he emphasized. President Museveni outlined major road works accomplished in Teso and assured the people of Kumi that the government had already secured funds for new projects. “We repaired the road from Tororo all the way to Soroti about three times. We also tarmacked the road from Soroti through Katakwi to Moroto, and from Tirinyi–Pallisa–Kamonkoli to Kumi,” he said. “Now we have secured funds for the road from Kumi- Ngora- Serere– Kagwara– Bugondo. The money is there; we are just looking for a company to execute the work.” On electricity, the President said that Kumi District was already benefiting from rural electrification, though a few sub-counties still lacked power. “Electricity has reached most sub-counties, South and North Divisions, Nyero, Atutur, and Oboma. The plan is to extend it to all the ten sub-counties that are not yet connected,” he explained. While commending the water coverage progress, the President noted that access in Kumi District remains below that of neighboring Ngora and called for follow-up from local leaders. “Out of 325 rural villages in Kumi, 153 have access to safe water through boreholes representing 47%. This means 53% still lack access. Leaders need to find out why the coverage here is lower than in Ngora, where it’s up to 90%,” he said. He revealed that the government plans to construct the Lake Kyoga Multipurpose Gravity Flow Scheme, which will serve the districts of Serere, Ngora, Kumi and Bukedea. “This project is easy to implement because Teso is flat. We have pumped water from River Kagera up to Mbarara about 35 miles through hilly terrain, so this will be even easier,” he noted. The President emphasized the government's commitment to improving social infrastructure in Kumi through education and health investments. Kumi District currently has 75 government primary schools, but out of 140 parishes, only 48 have at least one government school. “Our plan is to have one primary school per parish and one secondary school per sub-county. Parishes and sub-counties without government schools will get them,” the President assured. On the health sector, he revealed that out of 18 sub-counties in Kumi, only one has a hospital, one has a Health Centre IV, and six have Health Centre IIIs. To close this gap, the government plans to upgrade several HC IIs to HC IIIs and construct new facilities in underserved sub-counties such as Kanapa, Mukongoro, and Kanyum. Among other notable achievements, Kumi now benefits from; Kumi Municipality Piped Water Supply serving over 39,000 people, Nyero Town Council Water System serving 14,400 residents, Ongino Water System reaching 9,000 people and Mukongoro Water Project serving 11,600 residents. He mentioned that future plans include expanding the Nyero Town Council project, constructing water systems in Kanyum and Atutur, and developing small-scale irrigation projects such as the Totolim Irrigation Scheme (10 acres). President Museveni also appreciated testimonies from local beneficiaries like Ms. Bena Apolot, a graduate of the Soroti Presidential Skilling Hub, who started a hairdressing business with UGX 300,000 and has since expanded it. The President commended such initiatives, emphasizing that government programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM) and skilling hubs are designed to empower citizens to create wealth and transform their livelihoods. “Development and peace must translate into wealth for every household. That’s why we introduced programs like the Parish Development Model to ensure no Ugandan is left behind,” he concluded. The President also handed over the NRM flags to aspiring Members of Parliament, LC V chairperson, councillors, and other party candidates in Kumi District, formally endorsing their participation in the upcoming elections. Ms. Christine Apolot, the NRM spokesperson for Kumi District, thanked the President for his continued leadership and commitment to peace and development. “We warmly welcome you to Kumi, which is one of your homes. We appreciate your excellent leadership and your role in restoring peace after the difficult times of insurgencies, cattle rustling, and insecurity that once defined this region,” she said. She, however, appealed for government support in specific areas including health, and education. “We request for the construction of primary schools in the 70 parishes, secondary schools in seven sub-counties, and expansion of our general hospitals to cater for the growing population. We also need better road equipment and additional security personnel,” she said. The event was attended by NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) members, Members of Parliament, religious and cultural leaders, as well as thousands of supporters.

2025-11-04