By Jumah Kakomo/ Kabuye Ronald
Leaders in Kotido District have applauded the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Presidential Candidate, General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for his leadership in restoring peace and promoting development through the disarmament of armed groups in the Karamoja sub-region.
The leaders, including the NRM National Vice Chairperson for Karamoja Sub-region John Baptist Loki and the Kotido District NRM Chairperson Dr. Lochap Paul, noted that the pacification of Karamoja remains one of the government’s greatest achievements and has laid the foundation for sustainable development in the region.
They made the remarks during the NRM Presidential Campaign Rally held at Lomukura Primary School playgrounds in Kotido Municipality.
General Museveni emphasized that the successful disarmament of the Karacunas in Kotido and across Karamoja has created a stable environment for wealth creation and development, urging residents to take advantage of the prevailing peace to improve their livelihoods.
The NRM Presidential Candidate expressed disappointment with some leaders and security personnel who, he said, had previously benefited from the insecurity in Karamoja by treating it as a “cash cow.” He attributed the region’s past instability to sectarian politics based on tribal and religious divisions under previous regimes—divisions he said the NRM government has successfully overcome.
Museveni also announced plans for major infrastructure projects in Kotido District, including the Kitgum–Moroto–Kotido Road and the Moroto–Kotido–Kaabong Road, with priority given to the most critical routes. He said these projects, alongside mass electrification, will accelerate industrialization and transform Karamoja into a regional industrial hub.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to expanding access to water, Museveni revealed plans to scale up piped water distribution beyond the current 125 villages, which represent 25% of Kotido’s total coverage. The ongoing projects include two new valley tanks, solar-powered irrigation systems, and the construction of high-yield boreholes and small-scale irrigation schemes such as the Nataba Dam, shared between Kaabong and Kotido districts.
He also confirmed plans to expand Kotido General Hospital and upgrade several health centers from Health Centre II and III levels, alongside the construction of new primary and secondary schools in line with the government’s policy of one primary school per parish and one secondary school per sub-county.
Museveni further urged Kotido residents to embrace the government’s universal education program and benefit from the Presidential Zonal Industrial Skilling Hubs, emphasizing that education and skills training are key to household wealth creation.
Meanwhile, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, reminded the people of Kotido that the NRM’s 2026–2031 manifesto “Protecting the Gains Made as We Make a Qualitative Leap into a High Middle-Income Status Country” aligns with their aspirations for lasting peace and development. She urged residents to continue supporting the NRM for continued progress.
NRM Vice Chairperson John Baptist Loki commended the government for establishing two regional universities, the Gulu University Kotido Branch and the Karamoja Peace and Technical University which he said have transformed the education landscape of the sub-region. He called on the people of Kotido to support the NRM to consolidate and expand these development achievements.
