Museveni wraps up Karamoja campaign with call for peace, wealth creation

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Under heavy rain, President Yoweri Museveni addressed his final campaign rally in Karamoja sub-region on Thursday (October 30) with a call for peace, wealth creation, and the consolidation of the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) achievements in the region.

The rally at Matany Grounds in Napak district drew thousands of supporters.

The NRM presidential candidate thanked the people of Karamoja for supporting the disarmament campaign.

“I remember a function at Kangole where many people came to hand over guns, and women played a big role for the peace of Karamoja. Recently, even the Karachunas came out and handed over guns, thank you so much."

Museveni said peace in Karamoja has contributed to harmony across Uganda.

He said the government is constructing five new secondary schools in Napak, which will leave only six sub-counties without a government secondary school upon completion.

“The plan is to have one government secondary school per sub-county and one technical school per district. What has been achieved is noted, and what has not been done will be done. That’s why we are asking you for your support."

Museveni said that to counter those sabotaging his vision for free education, he started presidential skilling hubs — one of which is in Napak — to train youth for free.

“These children had lost hope because they lacked school fees. But after six months of training, they are making shoes, furniture, hospital beds, and bags - items that were being imported from China and India."

'Napak will get hospital'

On health, Museveni announced plans to upgrade health centres in Napak from status two to three. They include Nabawal, Ngoleriet, Lokiteded and Morulinga.

Iriiri Health Centre III is being upgraded to status four.

“In the next term, every sub-county will have at least a health centre III, and Napak will have its own hospital,” promised the NRM leader.

On wealth creation, Museveni reiterated the NRM’s long-standing message of commercialising small-scale farming through the four-acre model, which encourages families to engage in dairy, poultry, horticulture, and cash crops.

He also emphasised that jobs come from wealth, not merely from government employment.

At the same rally, the President praised the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni, for her work in Karamoja.

“I appointed a minister for Karamoja, but he declined, thinking it was a demotion. But Maama Janet accepted and worked hard. She built water dams and improved food security. When she was here, Karamoja even started sending food to Mbale."

He announced a new plan to expand individualised water systems for commercial farmers in Karamoja to promote irrigation and resilience against drought.

“I appeal to you to continue supporting the NRM so that we can consolidate what we have done and also do more. The rest will be done."

Mrs Museveni thanked Napak residents for their unwavering support for NRM.

“All Ugandan adults have a responsibility to protect this peace and unity for the continuation of development,” she said, urging the residents to re-elect President Museveni and NRM leaders in the 2026 elections.

The NRM Vice-Chairman for Karamoja, John Baptist Lokii said Napak and Karamoja are celebrating the achievements of NRM over the years, promising Napak's massive support for the NRM in next year's elections.

Gains in Napak 

The NRM chairman for Napak, Mark Longole, presented a report showing the transformation in the district's sectors such as education, health, water, security, and peace. 

He revealed that 17.83 billion shillings in Parish Development Model (PDM) funds had been disbursed to 17,867 beneficiaries across 57 SACCOs, representing 42.8% of households in the district.

Napak has also benefited from programs such as Emyooga, Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP), Women Entrepreneurship Programme, and SAGE for the elderly.

On the Emyooga, the district has 34 SACCOs with 9,195 members, who have so far received 1.16 billion shillings.

Longole thanked the government for integrating 2,114 former warriors after disarmament, noting that peace has unlocked development potential across the district.

Despite the progress, he tabled several requests to the President, including creation of a new district, Iriiri separate from Napak, construction of a district hospital, restocking of households affected by disarmament, and strengthening youth SACCOs with 2.5 billion shillings as a revolving fund. 

Other requests included the extension of electricity to the remaining sub-counties and the resolution of the long-standing land dispute between Napak and Teso.

Napak district remains one of NRM’s strongest areas. In the 2021 presidential elections, out of 56,678 registered voters, Museveni secured 32,490 votes (94.1%), while the National Unity Platform (NUP) got 912 votes (2.6%).

According to the 2024 census, Napak has a population of 211,830, and the number of registered voters has increased to 62,688 in 2025, up by over 6,000 new voters. 

The district now has 181 polling stations, up from 145 in 2021, signaling administrative expansion and voter mobilisation progress.