Museveni sends strong appeals to Karamojang
CAPTION – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, (L) with First Lady Janet Museveni (R) hold umbrellas as it rained during a rally, held at Matany grounds, Napak District Thursday October 30th, 2025. (PPU Photo).
By Stephen Wandera Ouma
NAPAK – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni braved a heavy downpour on Thursday 30th October 2025, as he addressed his final campaign rally in Karamoja, delivering a passionate appeal for peace, wealth creation, and the consolidation of the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) achievements in the region.
The rally, held at Matany Grounds in Napak District, drew thousands of enthusiastic supporters who cheered as President Museveni, soaked but undeterred, declared, “I have been a cattle keeper since the age of four and I don’t fear the rain. In Ntungamo, when you abandon the cows to go for shelter, the cows will go to the gardens, destroy people’s crops, and that becomes a crime.”
The NRM Presidential candidate reflected on peace and stability, revisiting the painful history of insecurity in Karamoja and the struggle to disarm armed warriors.
“There were arguments that we should leave you with guns to protect yourselves from fellow rustlers from neighboring countries,” President Museveni recalled. “But I said No, that is suicide. You have now seen the results.”
He thanked the people of Karamoja for supporting the disarmament campaign, describing it as a historic contribution to national unity and security.
“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,” he said, noting that peace in Karamoja has contributed to harmony across Uganda.
President Museveni emphasized that Uganda’s progress rests on the NRM’s founding principles of patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation, and democracy. He described himself as a “wealth creator” who depends on his own labor and the markets of fellow Ugandans.
CAPTION: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, with First Lady Janet Museveni arrive at a rally, held at Matany grounds, Napak District Thursday October 30th, 2025. (PPU Photo).
“I have looked after my ancestors’ cattle since I was four. I depend on myself. All I need from other Ugandans is a market to buy my milk, beef, and bananas. Anyone who buys my products is helping me to be rich,” he said.
“I’m glad the NRM accepted this ideology, and that’s why Uganda is stable and developing,” President Museveni said, drawing applause from the crowd.
Highlighting progress in education, candidate Museveni outlined that Napak District has 30 government primary schools, 44 private primary schools, 3 government secondary schools, and 1 private secondary school.
He said the government was constructing five new secondary schools, 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,” President Museveni told supporters.
However, he expressed disappointment at those sabotaging his vision for free education.
“For a long time, I wanted free education in government schools,” he lamented.
“But some school managers have turned everything into money. They charge unnecessary fees and block children from studying.”
CAPTION: Some of the NRM supporter at the rally, held at Matany grounds, Napak District Thursday October 30th, 2025. (PPU Photo).
To counter this, H.E. Museveni said 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,” he said.
He urged voters to insist on free education in government schools, warning that school charges were “destroying the future of young Ugandans.”
On health, President Museveni said Napak’s 14 sub-counties had only five Health Centre IIIs, leaving nine sub-counties without a health facility.
He announced plans to upgrade several facilities such as Nabawal HCII to HCIII, Ngoleriet HCII to HCIII, Lokiteded HCII to HCIII, and Morulinga HCII to HCIII. Some of the ongoing works include upgrading Iriiri HCIII to HCIV.
“In the next term, every sub-county will have at least a health centre III, and Napak will have its own hospital,” President Museveni promised.
Shifting to household income and wealth creation, the President drew a sharp contrast between development and wealth, explaining that while development projects are government-led, wealth creation is personal.
“There’s a tarmac road in Matany. But do you sleep on a tarmac road? No. You sleep in your houses, and the poverty you left there welcomes you back. Development is ours, but wealth and poverty are yours,” he emphasized.
President Museveni reiterated the NRM’s long-standing message of commercializing small-scale farming through the four-acre model, which encourages families to engage in dairy, poultry, horticulture, and cash crops.
He cited success stories from across Uganda, including George Matongo of Nakaseke, an uneducated farmer who earns Shs250 million annually from selling 900 litres of milk per day, and Korea Dick of Abim, who earns Shs12 million annually from mango farming, selling to the Soroti Fruit Factory.
“These are examples of people who listened to our message. So, I appeal to you, chase poverty from your homes,” he said.
Regarding the issue of jobs, the President emphasized that jobs come from wealth, not merely from government employment.
He cited Hon. Fred Byamukama of Kakumiro District, who runs a four- acre model farm with cows, poultry, bananas, and piggery. From eggs alone, Hon. Byamukama earns Shs55 million in profits per month, about Shs700 million a year, and employs 26 people.
