The National Resistance Movement (NRM) party presidential candidate, General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has concluded his campaign trail in the Karamoja sub-region with a final rally held at Narakorio Playground in Matany Town Council, Napak District.
During the rally, General Museveni commended the First Lady, Maama Janet Kataha Museveni, for volunteering to serve as Minister for Karamoja Affairs at a time when the region was volatile and highly vulnerable.
The President highlighted two major achievements under the First Lady’s leadership. The first was the effective distribution of clean and safe water across the Karamoja sub-region through the construction of numerous boreholes and water dams, which have supported both livestock and agricultural activities.
The second achievement, he noted, was the initiation of food security programs that have significantly reduced hunger, transforming Karamoja into a food-secure region now capable of exporting surplus produce to other parts of the country.
General Museveni also announced plans to expand water-for-production initiatives in Napak District and the wider Karamoja sub-region, emphasizing the importance of water access for sustainable developmentl
The NRM candidate further revealed that his government had successfully averted a potential genocide in Karamoja that could have resulted from rampant communal gun violence. He explained that criminal groups, including cattle rustlers, once dominated the area, but the NRM government decisively addressed the problem through a comprehensive disarmament exercise.
Museveni said the results of the disarmament process have been unity, development, and wealth creation across the region. He commended local leaders and residents for embracing peace, which has enabled the ongoing wave of development in Karamoja.
He also reminded the people of Napak that the NRM government has used a similar peace approach to end tribal conflicts that once plagued Uganda, such as tensions between the Acholi and Lango, Bugisu and Sebei, Teso and Karamoja, as well as between northerners and southerners. Museveni urged residents to continue supporting the NRM in the upcoming general elections to ensure further progress and improved service delivery.
The President pledged to construct more primary and secondary schools in Napak District in his next term to address the existing education gap and strengthen universal free education at all levels. Currently, Napak has 59 parishes, of which 20 host at least one government primary school, and eight government secondary schools, five of which have been newly built across the 11 sub-counties.
Museveni emphasized that charging fees in government schools is illegal and harmful to the national education system. He encouraged residents to protect the free education policy, comparing its impact to that of the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs, which have transformed the lives of youth whose education had previously been derailed by illegal school charges.
The NRM presidential candidate also committed to constructing a new district hospital in Matany, Napak District, and to fulfilling other pledges presented by local leaders. He further promised to upgrade several health centers, elevating some from Health Center II to III and others from Health Center III to IV.
In addition, Museveni assured residents of compensation for cattle lost in protected kraals and directed the Ministry of Karamoja Affairs to ensure equitable water distribution across all districts in the sub-region. He noted disparities in access, with some districts achieving up to 80% water coverage while others lag behind at around 50%.
Speaking to media shortly after the rally, Napak District Woman Member of Parliament, Faith Nakut, has commended the NRM Presidential Candidate, General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for his announcement of major development and wealth creation initiatives for Napak District. These include, among others, the construction of a 130-billion cubic-litre water dam, the promotion of free universal education, the strengthening of peace, the establishment of a district hospital, and the enhancement of wealth creation programs.
“I’m glad that we have warmly received our party’s presidential candidate,” Hon. Nakut said. “He has made several commitments to the people of Napak, and we are particularly excited about the plans to construct a mega dam in Lokicha, with a capacity of 130 billion cubic litres. This project will address the problem of water scarcity for our livestock and crop production, it will be like creating a lake in Karamoja.”
Nakut further noted that the candidate has pledged to maintain peace and expand access to free education for students who are unable to continue their studies due to high school fees.
She added, “he also challenged us on the matter of wealth creation, and that is a journey I am ready to walk with the people of Napak as their leader. I have taken up that challenge wholeheartedly.”
