President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on Ugandans to preserve the peace and unity the country has enjoyed for decades by voting for the National Resistance Movement (NRM), saying it is the only party with a proven record of stability, development, and national transformation.
The President made the appeal during a campaign rally in Nebbi District, where he was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni.
The event began with an opening prayer led by His Grace Archbishop Luke Orombi, who prayed for a peaceful election period and for God’s continued blessings upon Uganda’s unity and prosperity.
Thousands of enthusiastic supporters thronged the venue, waving NRM flags, singing party songs, and cheering as the President and the First Lady arrived. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation as the crowd welcomed the NRM’s message of peace, unity, and economic progress.
The campaign is running under the theme “Protecting the Gains, Making a Qualitative Leap into High Middle-Income Status.”
In her address, Maama Janet Museveni reminded Ugandans of their individual responsibility to protect the peace the country currently enjoys.
“We are in an electoral season. Every person who has a vote carries a responsibility, to vote for peace, to vote for stability, and to vote for continued progress,” she said.
She cautioned voters against taking peace for granted, noting that Uganda’s transformation is deeply rooted in the stability restored under the NRM government.
“Some of you may not know where Uganda has come from. Do not play with the peace and freedom God has given us. Development, prosperity, and transformation all depend on the peace and freedom we enjoy today,” she added.
Her remarks set the tone for President Museveni’s speech, which focused on the NRM’s long-standing achievements and the need to consolidate progress made over the years.
NRM’s Legacy of Peace, Unity, and National Development
President Museveni reflected on his decades-long commitment to serving Uganda, expressing pride in the NRM’s enduring contribution to peace and nation-building.
“For 65 years, NRM has been working to unite and develop Uganda. As your Presidential Flagbearer, I am here to continue this mission,” he said.
He congratulated Archbishop Orombi on reaching 76 years of age, before noting his own lifelong dedication to the country.
“I congratulate my young brother, His Grace Archbishop Luke Orombi upon reaching 76 years old. I am 81, and of those years, 65 have been dedicated to Uganda and Africa,” he added.
The President credited Uganda’s long-standing peace to the NRM’s ideology, which rejects tribalism, religious intolerance, and sectarianism.
“In the past, political parties were divided along religious or tribal lines. That is why no party could win a majority at independence. NRM built a national movement that unites all Ugandans,” he explained.
He emphasized that this unity has enabled Uganda to build strong institutions such as the army, the judiciary, and an efficient administrative system that ensures order and stability across the nation.
Advancing Infrastructure and Social Development in West Nile
Turning to development, President Museveni highlighted major infrastructure and social service achievements in the West Nile region under NRM leadership.
“Even when resources were limited, we made sure the road from Karuma reached here. I am delighted that West Nile is now fully connected to the national electricity grid all the way to Koboko. We are also working on the Nebbi–Goli road,” he said.
He observed that the NRM government has also revolutionized communication technology in Uganda.
“When NRM came to government, there were only 23,000 telephone lines. Today, we have 28 million telephones,” he stated proudly.
On education, the President noted the vast improvement in access to learning institutions compared to past decades.
“In the 1960s, there were no A-Level schools in Northern Uganda. Today, Nebbi alone has eight. This is progress, but we are not done,” he said.
He promised further investments in education under the next government term.
“In the next government, we will enforce free education, increase teachers by 50,000, and ensure every parish has a primary school and every sub-county a secondary school,” he pledged.
He also emphasized improvements in healthcare delivery across the region.
“Out of 16 sub-counties, 10 have health centers. We shall ensure the remaining six also have access to quality health services,” he said.
Wealth Creation and the Parish Development Model
President Museveni reminded citizens that true national progress must begin with household prosperity.
“Some leaders talk about development like roads, hospitals, schools but people go home to poverty. The Parish Development Model (PDM) is designed to bring wealth to every household,” he explained.
He urged the people of Nebbi to embrace the PDM fully, saying it is the key to eradicating household poverty and promoting self-sufficiency.
The NRM Vice Chairperson for Northern Uganda, Hon. Hamson Obua, hailed the President as “the pacifier of peace in northern Uganda.”
“When we talk of peace and development in Northern Uganda, it is only President Museveni who has delivered. He is dependable, reliable, and the guarantor of stability,” Obua said.
The NRM District Chairman for Nebbi, Hon. Emmanuel Urombi, also thanked the President for his leadership and numerous development programs that have benefited the district.
“Over 300 youth trained in the Presidential Skilling Hub. The district’s connection to the national grid has opened doors for agro-industrial growth,” he stated.
Nebbi District, home to over 299,000 people across 63 parishes, has seen major improvements through government initiatives.
Under the Parish Development Model, the district has received Shs18.6 billion, supporting more than 20,000 households. It currently boasts 89 government primary schools, 7 secondary schools, and four new Seed Secondary Schools under construction.
Museveni’s Final Appeal
In his closing remarks, President Museveni urged the people of Nebbi to vote for NRM parliamentary flagbearers and other party candidates to ensure continued progress and unity.
“I urge the people of Nebbi to vote for our NRM Members of Parliament and support the NRM across the board to represent you well. Let us protect the peace, freedom, and development we have built together,” he said.
The event was attended by members of the NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC), Members of Parliament, and various religious and cultural leaders, who all reaffirmed their commitment to the NRM’s vision of peace, stability, and prosperity for Uganda.
