The National Resistance Movement (NRM) President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has promised renewed government action on key issues affecting the Acholi sub-region, including compensation delays, education reform, restocking in post-conflict communities, and the persistent threat of human-wildlife conflict.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Anaka Town Council, Museveni acknowledged the region’s historical suffering, especially due to the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency and large-scale infrastructure projects.
He assured residents that his government remains committed to redressing past wrongs and closing development gaps.
Among the top concerns addressed was delayed compensation for residents displaced by the Karuma Hydropower Project.
Museveni disclosed that while the government has already disbursed shs11 billion, an outstanding shs48 billion is still pending.
He pledged to personally instruct the Prime Minister to fast-track the remaining payments to affected families.
“I will ensure this issue is followed up. People deserve their compensation,” the President said.
On the issue of crop destruction by elephants, Museveni admitted that the existing electric fencing had not been entirely effective in Nwoya and neighboring areas.
He committed to strengthening containment measures and compensating farmers who have suffered losses from wildlife incursions.
Turning to education, Museveni strongly reaffirmed his policy of free education in government schools, criticizing school officials and local leaders who continue to impose illegal fees. He compared those undermining free education to “kuzilinga”, a term he used to describe women who harm their newborns, arguing that denying children access to school was effectively “killing the country’s future.”
“Free education is not a privilege, it is a right. Those who block this policy are preserving ignorance,” he stated, after interacting with youth trained under his Presidential Skilling Hubs.
He praised the hubs for empowering school dropouts with practical skills, enabling them to produce goods like shoes, furniture, and garments that previously had to be imported.
Museveni also touched on the livestock restocking program, which has faced legal hurdles and implementation delays.
He revealed that a consensus had now been reached with leaders from Teso, Lango, and Acholi, with a plan to provide each homestead with a basic package of animals.
However, he noted that Acholi deserved special consideration due to the region’s extended suffering during the LRA conflict.
“Acholi bore the brunt of the war. I’ve written to the Prime Minister to develop a variation in the restocking formula to ensure genuine war-affected households are fairly compensated,” Museveni said, emphasizing the need for justice alongside development.
In terms of infrastructure, the President announced plans to establish a technical institute in the area and upgrade Koch Goma Health Centre III to Health Centre IV status, aiming to enhance both education and healthcare services for residents.
He concluded by thanking Adogoraj Meri Laquara Mabel, who donated land for the construction of a local NRM office, calling her action a symbol of patriotism and service to the nation.
“These are the issues I wanted to share with you today, education, restocking, and compensation. We are going to handle them one by one,” Museveni said, as he rallied support in a region still healing from decades of war and displacement.
