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 IMPRESSED BY IMPROVED WATER ACCESS IN NAKAPIRIPIRIT, APPLAUDS NRM’S TRANSFORMATIVE WORK

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has expressed delight over the remarkable improvement in water access across Nakapiripirit District. He described it as proof of how the National Resistance Movement (NRM)'s long-term investments in infrastructure are transforming lives in Karamoja. Speaking during a campaign rally at Namboole II Grounds in Nakapiripirit yesterday, President Museveni, who is also the NRM Presidential flag bearer, said he was impressed to learn that 82% of villages in the district now have access to safe water, one of the highest coverage levels in the subregion. “I was looking at water coverage, and I’m happy to see that Nakapiripirit is doing well. Out of 209 villages, 172 have access to water. This 82% is very good. Some districts like Amudat and Abim are still lower, but we shall study why and address it,” said President Museveni who was in the company of the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni. He noted that the progress reflects the government’s deliberate effort to provide economic and social infrastructure to all corners of Uganda, especially previously marginalized regions. Under the NRM government’s Water for Production initiative, he mentioned that several major facilities have been completed in Nakapiripirit, including the Aooyalet Valley Tank in Loregae Sub- County with a capacity of 40 million litres, and the Komaret Valley Tank in Moruita holding 20 million litres. “Four additional valley tanks Karengeze, Lomogol, Lokitela-Alokwa, and Lomosomosoi as well as a wind-powered abstraction system have also been completed,” he said. Looking ahead, the President revealed that the government is finalizing plans for the Namalu Large Scale Irrigation Scheme, which will store 11.8 billion litres of water and irrigate up to 750 hectares under Phase One. “These are the kinds of interventions that ensure water is not just for drinking but for production to support farming and livestock,” the President said. President Museveni emphasized that the NRM’s development philosophy rests on building economic and social infrastructure to create the foundation for wealth creation. He pointed out that Nakapiripirit has benefited from new roads, electricity connections, and telecommunication networks that have opened up the area to trade and services. Among key road projects completed in the district are Namalu–Nakapiripirit (17 km), Akisim–Moroto–Lokitanyala (92 km), and the ongoing Muyembe–Nakapiripirit (92 km) road upgrade. “These roads are not just for decoration, they are for movement of goods, services, and people. They are the arteries of the economy,” he said. On social infrastructure, the President highlighted the construction of schools and health centers to bring essential services closer to the people. “Nakapiripirit currently has 27 government primary schools and seven government secondary schools, while the Ministry of Health is upgrading several lower-level facilities to Health Centre IIIs and IVs to improve service delivery,” he said. Turning to household income, President Museveni called on the people of Nakapiripirit to embrace commercial agriculture and enterprise development, saying that wealth creation must begin at the homestead. He cited examples like Hon. Fred Byamukama, the State Minister for Transport, who earns over Shs 55 million per month from poultry farming, as proof that agriculture can be highly profitable when approached commercially. “Please listen carefully to the NRM message. Plan number one is commercial agriculture. From there, we go to manufacturing and then services, including digital. These are the pillars that will transform Uganda,” he said. He also praised the impact of the Presidential Zonal Industrial Hubs, where youth are acquiring practical skills for self-employment. Gloria Nayol, a beneficiary from Napak Industrial Hub, shared her story of how a tailoring course changed her life. “After completing my training, I started my own small business with friends. We later received Shs 50 million through the Graduate SACCO. We are buying materials and expanding. Thank you, President Museveni, for supporting us,” she said. Karamoja is Home: On her part, Maama Janet described her visit to Nakapiripirit as a “homecoming,” expressing gratitude for the warmth and progress she witnessed in the region. “Coming to Karamoja is always a homecoming for me. I thank you for the traditional love and warmth of the Karamoja people that I cherish so much,” she said. Maama Janet noted that the transformation in Karamoja from insecurity and hunger to stability and productivity reflects God’s grace and the NRM’s commitment to inclusive development. “The new generation of Karamoja must live in better houses, have better food and livelihoods. Karamoja has always been a blessing to me. God bless Karamoja, and God bless Uganda,” she added. The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anitah Among, who also serves as the NRM’s Second National Vice Chairperson (Female), commended the government for improving social services in the subregion. She particularly praised the district’s new mobile laboratory and the modern emergency units at Moroto Hospital, describing them as life-saving facilities that reflect tangible progress. “When you see the road from Mbale–Muyembe–Nakapiripirit, it is one of the best roads. We have security, development, and a conducive environment to create wealth. We thank you, Mzee, for your leadership,” she said. Mr. Lochap Daniel Matovu, the NRM Chairperson for Nakapiripirit, said residents remain firmly behind President Museveni, citing the district’s 94.8% support in the 2021 elections. He said Nakapiripirit’s progress under NRM from education and health to water and roads is visible and unmatched. According to district data; Nakapiripirit has 9 sub-counties, 35 parishes, and 209 villages with a population of 111,681 people. Through the Parish Development Model, the district has received Shs 10.5 billion, benefiting over 10,300 households. Under Emyooga, 35 SACCOs with 8,635 members have received Shs 1.78 billion to support small enterprises. “We are determined to protect these gains as we move towards achieving middle-income status,” Mr. Matovu said. As the campaign rally concluded, President Museveni urged the people of Nakapiripirit to stay on the course with the NRM, assuring them that the government will continue expanding infrastructure and wealth creation programs to uplift every household. “What we have done here in Nakapiripirit shows what happens when people and the government work together. Let’s continue building on these foundations,” he said. Meanwhile, the campaign is running under the theme: “Protecting the Gains, As We Make a Qualitative Leap into High Middle-Income Status”. The event was graced by NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) members, Members of Parliament, religious and cultural leaders, as well as thousands of supporters.

2025-10-30

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI DECLARES: “CRIMINALS WILL NEVER BE A PROBLEM AGAIN IN KARAMOJA”

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has assured Ugandans that insecurity and cattle rustling in Karamoja are permanently defeated, declaring that criminals will never be a problem again under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government. The President made the remarks while addressing journalists in Karamoja subregion at the Morulinga State Lodge, Napak District on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. The address was part of his ongoing campaign trail ahead of the 2026 general elections. In his detailed briefing, President Museveni traced the historical roots of cattle rustling and the resurgence of insecurity in Karamoja, attributing them to systemic failures in earlier administrations and corruption within local security structures. He noted that upon his direct intervention, the government restored order and neutralized the rustlers who had destabilized the sub-region. “But when we came, there was corruption in the army, starting with the failure to pay the vigilantes. When we came to Barlegi, we found the real problems, and of course, the army had the capacity to defeat these people, and we defeated them,” the President said. H.E. Museveni explained that the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), working hand-in-hand with local communities, managed to restore security in the region. He revealed that during an earlier period when the UPDF 5th Division went for training, some rustlers tried to take advantage of the temporary gap, but they were swiftly defeated. “They learnt a lesson, and anybody who tries will be defeated as long as the NRM is in charge,” H.E. Museveni said firmly. The President underscored the need for effective community policing and robust communication systems at the grassroots. He expressed concern that some sub-counties in Karamoja still lacked a sufficient police presence, despite a standing directive that each sub-county should have at least 18 police officers. “The lack of community policing in some areas has been due to incomplete deployment of police officers,” he noted, adding that improved communication technology provides a new frontier in crime prevention. “It’s not really difficult to deal with these criminals, especially now that we have a good network of telephones. This good network is very important in anti-crime efforts,” President Museveni said, adding that every sub-county should center security around the police station, where everyone knows the emergency telephone number. “If anything happens, people should ring immediately,” he said, emphasizing that the police must be well-equipped with means of mobility, such as motorcycles and pickup vehicles, to respond swiftly to incidents. In addition, he recommended the deployment of police dogs and surveillance technology such as drones and aircraft to track criminal activity. “If the criminal has already left, the police dog can follow. At another level, we have surveillance equipment like UAVs and aircraft that can fly by day or night. There’s no way criminals can manage. If you combine all this, there’s no way they can survive,” the President stated. President Museveni added that modern surveillance technology has made it nearly impossible for rustlers to hide. “Some commanders said these rustlers are now staying in the bush instead of their homes, but that’s even easier because if they use a telephone, you can locate it. That telephone becomes a death trap for them,” he warned. Regarding national politics, candidate Museveni attributed the NRM’s enduring popularity to its consistent ideological foundation built on four key pillars — patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation, and democracy. “The big support of NRM that you are seeing is because of our work for the last 65 years. I have been active since 1960. Initially, I was a member of the Democratic Party (DP), which was promoting a sectarian cause. I told them that the federal system they were talking about was dangerous for a young country like Uganda. We needed unity,” he said. He recounted the political chaos of the early 1960s, when sectarianism dominated Uganda’s politics through parties like DP, UPC, and Kabaka Yekka, explaining that the coalition politics of that time sowed seeds of division that later erupted into violent conflict. “By 1964, Obote discovered that what he had promised Buganda could not be done, things like having its own High Court and police force. Those were ridiculous ideas. When he failed to implement them, the fallout led to the 1966 crisis,” he explained. President Museveni linked the NRM’s political philosophy to its development agenda, saying Uganda’s transformation is anchored on household wealth creation and value addition through agriculture and industry. “My first plan is wealth. That’s what I did in the cattle corridor in the 1960s. For economics, I say: Seek ye first the homestead incomes, and the rest shall be added unto you," he said, outlining a detailed model for household prosperity based on the “four-acre model plan”, urging every family to engage in commercial agriculture. “Each home must engage in commercial agriculture, using high-value enterprises. The first acre can go to coffee, the second to fruits, the third to pasture for zero-grazing cows, and the fourth to food crops like cassava. Then you can add backyard poultry, piggery for those who eat pork, and fish farming in wetlands,” he elaborated. The President highlighted the NRM’s ongoing push for industrialization, particularly agro-processing industries that add value to agricultural produce. “The factory is based on agriculture. If you produce a lot of milk, coffee, and fruits, you must process them,” he said, adding that agro-processing will link with the rural economy. He also mentioned that Karamoja and its surrounding regions have vast potential for mineral-based industrialization. In addition to agriculture and industry, the President identified tourism as another key economic pillar for Karamoja’s development. “We have natural beauty and culture here that can attract visitors. Tourism will complement agriculture and mining,” he said. President Museveni reiterated that Uganda’s progress cannot be isolated from Africa’s unity and economic integration. He said the NRM’s vision extends beyond national borders and seeks to promote a self-sustaining African market.

2025-10-30

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI HAILS NABILATUK FOR UNWAVERING SUPPORT TO NRM, HIGHLIGHTS PARTY’S ACHIEVEMENTS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has commended the people of Nabilatuk for their unwavering support to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and tasked them to overwhelmingly vote for the party for another term in office because of its clarity on leadership strategies and society dynamics. ‎ ‎He explains that the NRM has so far established a clear wealth creation strategy which no other contender for leadership has been able to counter. President Museveni also highlighted NRM’s achievements which include among others, restoring lasting peace in Karamoja and Uganda at large. “You all are witnesses to how the NRM has been able to create peace in Karamoja and in the rest of Uganda,” he said. The President in the company of the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni made the remarks today during a campaign rally held at Lolachat Primary School Playground, Nabilatuk District. President Museveni noted that after peace, the NRM’s second major contribution to Uganda has been development, which he said comprises two critical aspects — economic infrastructure and social infrastructure. “Here in Nabilatuk, you have seen what has been done, such as the tarmacked road, improved water facilities, schools, and health centres,” he said. President Museveni however observed that access to safe water in Nabilatuk still lags behind that of neighbouring Nakapiripirit District. “Out of 96 rural villages, 44 have access to safe water — that is 46%. In Nakapiripirit, it is 82%. You should find out why,” he said. He noted that Nabilatuk currently has one piped water system, with three piped water designs completed so far. Dams such as Longorikipii and Arengetekat have each been constructed with a capacity of 20,000 cubic meters. The government has also built smaller reservoirs at Aputiputi, Najonai-Kalakal, Nakikokolyae/Kamosing,Namata-Alomaa, Nangorit, and Sakale/Nakoko, each with a capacity of 10,000 cubic meters. Additionally, a valley tank at Napayan has been completed with a capacity of 20 million litres, and a solar-powered irrigation system is under construction to support agricultural productivity in the district. On education, President Museveni reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring free education for all Ugandan children under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) programs. “Under UPE, we are supposed to have free education, but some people keep charging fees, which makes children drop out of school. I don’t like this. The NRM wants mass education for everybody,” he said. He therefore appealed to the citizens to support his initiative of fully enforcing free education in all government schools, adding that the government had already established innovation hubs, such as one in Napak District, to promote skills and technology among learners. Nabilatuk currently has 17 government primary schools and three government secondary schools, including the newly completed Lolachat Seed Secondary School. “The plan of the government is to have one primary school per parish and one secondary school per sub-county. The NRM line is mass education for everyone,” he said. President Museveni noted that while Uganda initially promoted day schooling across the country, Karamoja might need boarding sections due to security challenges. “We shall discuss and see what can be done — perhaps make Karamoja have boarding sections for some time and, after 10 years, review whether the model can be applied elsewhere,” he added. On health, the President praised the region’s progress in immunization, which he said had significantly contributed to population growth. “When I first came to campaign in Karamoja in the 1980s, the population was 190,000. Today, it stands at 1.3 million,” he said. He announced that the government will upgrade Lolachat Health Centre II to Health Centre III, and is also undertaking the construction of Natarie HC II, Nayonai Angikalio HC III, Lorengedwat HC III, and Nabilatuk HC IV. On the other hand, President Museveni urged residents to embrace wealth creation as a personal responsibility distinct from public development. “You must add wealth creation alongside development because you can have development and still remain poor. Development benefits everyone, but wealth creation is for an individual,” he explained. He encouraged people to engage in commercial agriculture, manufacturing, ICT, and services such as transport and hospitality, which he said are creating millions of jobs across the country. “The government employs about 480,000 people, but factories alone employ 1.3 million — almost four times that number,” he noted. The President also addressed local concerns over grazing rights in protected areas, following complaints that the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) had restricted communities from grazing alongside wildlife. “They told me UWA wants to stop them from grazing in the park because they graze side by side with animals. I said they can continue grazing as we discuss with elders to find the right balance,” he said. He, however, reminded residents that tourism was also a valuable asset for the sub-region. On her part, Maama Janet thanked the people of Nabilatuk for their warm reception and love for the NRM government. “When I come to Karamoja, for me it is homecoming. Thank you for receiving us with traditional songs,” she said. Maama Janet also reaffirmed that the NRM government deeply values the people of Karamoja and urged them to safeguard the peace achieved under the leadership of President Museveni. “It is our responsibility to protect that peace and not take it for granted. We have not forgotten how we used to walk through these bushes encouraging the Karamojong to grow food for their families instead of depending on the World Food Programme,” she said. Furthermore, the First Lady commended the people of Karamoja for embracing food production and urged them to continue striving for self-reliance. “I am happy that now you are producing food and even keeping surplus in your granaries. The work of the NRM now is to help the Karamojong make a qualitative leap — from grass-thatched houses to modern homes,” she added.

2025-10-29

ARTICLE BY HIS EXCELLENCY YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI REGARDING BAD FISHING

*THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA* *ARTICLE* *BY* *HIS EXCELLENCY YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI* *PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA* *REGARDING* *BAD FISHING* *20TH OCTOBER, 2025* *BAD FISHING IS AGAINST SCIENCE AND AGAINST TRADITION* Fellow Ugandans, there is controversy going on about the Fisheries Protection Unit of the UPDF and those who are accused of bad fishing practices. This is the story of fishing as I know it. Fishing (okujuba) is part of the ancient myooga (livelihood specializations) of this area. In the Ankore – Mpororo – Kyigyezi – Tooro – Bunyoro area, I grew up seeing fish from a distance because many of the Banyankore did not eat fish in the past. I, however, would see People using entukuru (basket snares) and emikoyo (some sort of fungus got from ant-hills), to catch eshoonzi (mud-fish). In 1958, I was part of a School trip of Kyamate Boys’ School, when we visited the Katunguru fishing processing centre and another centre known as TUFMUC on Lake George. At Mbarara High School and Ntare, we would see Peugeot 204 pick-ups, travelling at dangerous speeds, rushing to Kampala, taking the fish from the Katunguru area and even Lake Nyakyivaale (they were calling it Maziinga, then). These vehicles were called: “Zivuunda” (“the fish is in danger of rotting!”). The implication was that they must drive recklessly fast and reach Kampala before the fish rots. Many of these happenings in Uganda got off my screen during the 16 years we were in the resistance (1971-1986). In 1986 and even by 1980 after Amin, there was no more TUFMAC and no more Zivuunda. About the Entukuru (the basket snares for the mud fish), I did not get time to check. I inquired whether there was any modern fish processing facility in Uganda and there was none. Fortunately, after being in State House for a few days, an Italian Minister, Professor Francisco Forte, came to see me. In our conversation, he told me that there was USD 20 million that the Italian Government had put aside for Uganda. However, given the instability of the Country prior to NRM’s coming into Government, the money had not been touched. I immediately requested him to build a Fish Processing Factory for Uganda. The Italian Government used USD 14 million to build the Masese Fish Processing Factory. I can, therefore, be accused of being the instigator of the fish rush onto the lakes. The moment People knew there was money in fish, factories flocked in and so did the bad fishermen. By 2010, there were 22 factories bringing into the Country USD 158.5 million per year and employing 5.3 million Ugandans. However, at the same time, illegal fishing also started. The illegal fishing uses nets with small holes that catch young fish. Responsible fishing should ensure that only a fish of 11 inches (tilapia) should be caught. This would be weighing more than 1kg and would already have laid eggs at least more than once. Each time a fish such as tilapia lays eggs, it lays 100 to 1500 eggs. It is such a productive industry. However, when you use a net with holes below 5 inches, you catch fish that is still below 1kg and it has not laid eggs. It is a real genocide against fish. These bad fishermen, do not only eat enyena of fish (the female calves of fish), they also destroy the breeding bays of fish known as ebyoondo in Luganda. This is where tilapia and other types of fish lay their eggs. The Nile Perch lays its eggs deep in the lake in the rocks known as ebyeema. These bad fishermen, do not follow either Science or tradition. In tradition, they had some taboos that protected the lake and the fishing industry. One taboo, for instance, was “the Ancestors would tell other fishermen that places spared for fish breeding had marine spirits (Emisambwa). But this was not true, they were just sparing such places for fish breeding.” These bad fishermen, ignored all these taboos. As a consequence of all these mistakes, the fish stocks in lakes dropped and the factories that had flooded in, started closing. By the time, I brought in the Fish Protection Unit, only 8 factories out of the 22 were still open and they were also about to close. 12 factories are now open. My questions to the People of the fishing areas were: “Who are these that do not observe science and do not observe tradition?” “Why are the traditional fishing Communities not protecting the fishing industry like the Banyankore protected the Ankore long-horn cattle, the other Ugandans have protected the millet, the bananas, etc?” The answer I got, was that these invaders came with a lot of force and could not listen to the indigenous elders and their guidance. What, therefore, is needed, is for the indigenous fishing groups, area by area, to take the lead so that they supplement the science with their traditional knowledge so that the Fisheries Industry is preserved. Our plan is to develop a massive fish farming Industry, using Government equipment to excavate fish ponds on the periphery of all the swamps in Busoga, Bukedi, Teso, Lango, the Luwero area and the Nile Valley. Therefore, the Communities will be helped to use the wetlands more profitably and also restore the wetlands so that they keep the water for irrigation for the terrestrial Parts of the Country. It is, therefore, not necessary to go on crowding into the lakes using hazardous ways of fishing. Even if you did not care about the Fishing Industry in the lakes and rivers and, out of cheap popularity you said that let the lake invaders do whatever they want, we would face bigger problems. Yes, the remaining factories would close and the invaders would deplete all the fish from the lakes and the rivers. However, that would not be all. The fish in the lake are part of the balance of nature. In the lakes, the fish are eaten but they also eat. The Nile Perch eats the other fish. However, they also eat planktons — these are microscopic plants and animals. Some of these take oxygen from the lakes. When they are eaten by fish, they remain in check. If, however, they are not eaten when the fish has disappeared, they will multiply so much, take all the oxygen from the water, leading to the death of all living animals in the lakes: the toads, the frogs, the snakes etc. These help to keep the balance of nature by eating the larvae of mosquitoes, the other insects like the lake flies, etc. Therefore, the fish are not only for the economy and food for some of the People, but also important for the ecological balance and even for Public Health by controlling mosquitoes. Working with the indigenous fishing Communities as the lead-agents area by area, we should study how to implement the following: (1) Create a fishing fund, separate from PDM to enable the legitimate and legal local fishermen to acquire the right boats and the right fishing nets that will only catch the mature fish but not the mudeke (the enyena — female calves of fish). (2) Only allow a limited, appropriate number and stop the mujuzo (flooding into the lakes and the rivers). Even Namboole has a limit as to how many spectators should be allowed in the stadium. Here you need legitimate criteria. That is why I emphasize the indigenous communities, area by area. This does not exclude the others. However, you must have a clear criteria as to why A and not B. (3) All the fish breeding areas, must be identified, gazetted and protected. Nobody should fish there or build there — landing sites, resorts, etc. How about cultivating on the nearby shores? The fisheries experts will guide us. The breeding centres near the shore are called ebyoondo which means mud in Runyankore. These are for the tilapia (engege). The Nile Perch breeds in the rocks, deep in the lake. They are called ebyeema, which means a bull mounting a cow in Runyankore. These must also be appropriately protected. (4) However, the real answer to fish production is fish-farming at the edges of the swamps in Busoga, the Luwero area, Bukedi, Teso, Lango, Acholi and the Nile Valley. This is literally a gold mine. The global demand for fish and fish products is USD 391billion while that of coffee is USD 460 billion. From my fish pond in Lango, under Dr. Ocen, as part of my 4 acres model, I get Ug. Sh. 100 million per harvest of the fish, after feeding them for 8-9 months. All the experiments I have done in Kawumu, Kabaale, Limoto, etc, show that fish-farming is a gold mine. It would end the misuse of the wetlands by growing rice from where you only get Sh. 1.3 million per acre per year. In an acre, you can have 2 fish ponds of 20 metres by 50 metres. The fishermen are 7,000 years behind the cattle keepers, who started domesticating cows that far back. Fish farming would shift economic use from the centre of the swamp, as is with rice now, to the periphery of swamp (Mwiga); thereby restoring the swamp in the centre, restoring the water in the centre that can be used for irrigation and the swamp grasses such as the bigugu (Cyperum Latifolia) that is always used for mulching gardens (kwarira). Therefore, bad fishing is both dangerous and unnecessary. Dr. Muranga at Bushenyi, through the use of irrigation and fertilizers, gets 53 tonnes of bananas per hectare per year while the nearby Banyankore get only 5.3 tonnes per hectare, per year. (5) There are other economic diversification efforts that the State House Staff, led by Dr. Hillary Musoke and team, have already started in the areas of Najja, Ngogwe, Nyenga, Bukunja and Kiyindi in Buikwe District. They help the former fishermen to engage in alternative enterprises which include: Fish fingerlings, feeds for both cage and pond fish farming, poultry farming, cattle keeping, piggery, etc. These efforts will be expanded and intensified. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA

2025-10-28

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI GRACES ST. JUDE THADDEUS’ 71ST NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATIONS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today joined thousands of Christians at St. Jude Thaddeus Church, Naguru to commemorate the 71st National Day of St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron of desperate and lost causes. The main celebrant was Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Bungoma in Kenya, Bishop Mark Kadima Wamukoya accompanied by pilgrims from Kenya. In his remarks, President Museveni urged the faithful to strengthen their faith and family values, emphasizing that faith plays a vital role in shaping national strength and unity, especially during times of trouble. He commended the faithful for their commitment and encouraged them to uphold the teachings of both Christianity and Islam, saying they have greatly contributed to the moral and spiritual growth and value addition of society. “I support the work of Christianity and Islam because I am from the indigenous groups of this place. Christianity added the concept of resurrection when we die, there is another life. Resurrection was new to us,” President Museveni said. He added that Christianity added values, and these have helped shape Uganda’s transition from traditional belief systems to organized religion, which has in turn influenced the nation’s moral and social development. “These ideas helped us shape our movement from tradition to religion, and that’s how we got some of our values. We were created in the image of God when you don’t like me, you don’t like God,” he said. “We were created in the image of God, so when you don’t like me, you are really rejecting God, nzembagala mwena tewali gwenkyawa,” he added. The President also reminded the faithful about overcoming selfishness and the importance of love as the foundation of moral conduct. “The ten commandments are summarized into two, love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as you love yourself. This is very important for value addition in society,” he noted. He further advised the faithful not to live in vengeance. “Jesus came with the message of unconditional forgiveness, therefore I find it very easy and rewarding,” he said. In his concluding remarks, President Museveni expressed gratitude for being invited to the celebrations and pledged to take a greater interest in the works of St. Jude Thaddeus. “I am very happy to be here. I am glad you invited me. I will now take more interest in St. Jude, not only as part of supporting faith but also as part of promoting religious tourism,” the President added. The Parish Priest of St. Jude Catholic Church Naguru, Rev. Fr. John Mary Bwire, warmly welcomed the President expressing deep appreciation for his presence. “Your presence today fills our hearts with renewed hope, it affirms the respect of our government that accords to the role of faith in shaping national character, fostering social development and unity, “he said. This event underscored the importance of faith in nation building, noting that religious institutions create a big role in creating discipline and unity.

2025-10-28