By Jumah Kakom/ Kabuye Ronald
National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has recounted the challenges and successes of restoring peace in Karamoja through the disarmament process, urging residents to cherish and safeguard the hard-won stability.
Addressing a campaign rally at Kaabong Secondary School playgrounds, Museveni said many elders in the region had initially opposed his disarmament program, arguing that firearms were necessary for self-defense against hostile neighbors such as the Turkana from Kenya.
However, the President noted that some of those opposing voices were from individuals who benefited from the gun culture through cattle rustling and other criminal activities.
“Uganda has the capacity to protect all its citizens,” Museveni said. “There was no justification for allowing armed groups to overrun Karamoja. The peace we enjoy today is proof that disarmament was the right decision.”
Museveni added that the results of the initiative are now visible through the region’s ongoing development and transformation.
The NRM presidential candidate announced plans to construct multi-billion-shilling water dams in Kaabong District to supplement the government’s existing clean and safe water systems.
He explained that the new dams will support both domestic and commercial water use, including the mechanization of agriculture through irrigation — a key step in boosting household incomes and food security in the semi-arid subregion.
Museveni also revealed plans to construct an international airport in Kaabong District in partnership with private investors. The project, he said, will support tourism at Kidepo Valley National Park, one of Uganda’s top wildlife destinations.
He further promised to improve road networks, electricity access, and healthcare facilities across the district, including the construction of more hospitals, primary, and secondary schools.
Museveni reaffirmed his government’s commitment to uplifting the socioeconomic welfare of the people in Kaabong and the greater Karamoja subregion, highlighting that previous regimes failed to deliver tangible progress.
“It is the NRM government that pacified Karamoja and brought real development,” he emphasized. “The district’s growth indicators, including a rising population, show the positive impact of NRM leadership.”
The President encouraged residents to embrace government empowerment initiatives, particularly the Parish Development Model (PDM), to boost household incomes. He cautioned voters against being misled by “political opportunists” and instead to “focus on wealth creation.”
Museveni also underscored the importance of free universal education in government schools, urging local leaders and parents to ensure that all children benefit from the program. He cited the success of Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs, which are equipping youth with practical skills for self-employment.
