President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has pledged to transform the Karamoja sub-region into an industrial and infrastructural powerhouse, citing peace, stability, and improved governance as the foundation for progress.
The President, accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, made the remarks during a campaign rally held at Lomukura Primary School in Kotido Municipality.
President Museveni began by commending the people of Karamoja for embracing peace and supporting government efforts to disarm the region.
“Our first point in the NRM Manifesto is peace. When we stopped guns, there was a woman in Nakapiripirit I will never forget — she had been married to nine men, and all of them died because of the gun,” he recalled.
He thanked the Karamojong who helped in the disarmament process and specifically appreciated individuals such as Natuk Judith for convincing the *Karachunas* (youth warriors) to voluntarily hand over their guns.
“I want to thank the youth groups who helped me. Now you can see peace — not only in Karamoja but in the whole of Uganda. What was causing war was not much, only greed, where someone thinks about himself alone. The NRM rejected all that,” Museveni said.
A United Uganda: The Fruits of Rejecting Tribal and Religious Politics
The President emphasized that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) built a strong and united political movement by rejecting divisive politics based on tribe or religion.
He noted that this unity has enabled Uganda to establish solid state institutions such as the Army and Police, which have played a key role in maintaining national security and stability.
“By rejecting sectarianism, we have built an enduring political force that wins elections in the first round and has laid a strong foundation for governance,” he said.
Infrastructure Development: Roads, Power, and Communication
On development, President Museveni outlined the government’s achievements in extending electricity and improving connectivity across Karamoja.
“We were able to bring electricity all the way from Soroti to Kotido to Karenga. Your problem with telephones is now solved, and the next issue to tackle is roads — like the tarmac from Lira to Kitgum up to Sudan. We are also going to work on the Moroto–Kotido road,” he announced.
He reminded citizens that infrastructure must take precedence before salary increments, explaining that development benefits everyone in the long run.
“When we tell our teachers to hold on as we construct roads, they say, ‘No, you have to pay us now.’ But development benefits everyone — wealth is yours alone, but development is for all,” the President emphasized.
Vision for an Industrial Karamoja
President Museveni revealed his ambitious plan to turn Karamoja into an industrial hub for Uganda.
He highlighted that peace and stability have begun attracting private investments, including cement factories and other industrial ventures, which are expected to create jobs and boost regional productivity.
“Now that there is peace, investors are coming. Karamoja has all the potential to become an industrial zone — with minerals, land, and peace, there is no reason for backwardness,” Museveni said.
Tackling Water Scarcity in Kotido
The President acknowledged that access to safe water remains a major challenge in Kotido District, with only 125 out of 491 villages currently having clean water.
“The water situation here is still low — out of 491 villages, only 125 have access to safe water. But we are working to change that,” he stated.
He added that the government has already constructed three piped water systems and several valley dams to support both human and livestock needs.
“These include the Sinat Valley Dam with a capacity of 4.4 billion litres, Kaoyagorok Dam with 1.7 billion litres, and the Kailong Earth Dam with 167 million litres,” Museveni revealed.
He said 22 valley tanks and solar-powered irrigation systems have been completed, with more projects underway, including high-yielding boreholes and small-scale irrigation schemes.
Education and Skilling for Self-Reliance
On education, the President reiterated his commitment to ensuring free education in government schools, saying that some school managers continue to undermine the policy by charging illegal fees.
“I have been having a challenge with school managers who charge fees in government schools. So, I decided to start skilling hubs per zone to show that free education is possible,” Museveni said.
“These skilling hubs train students for just six months for free, and they are now producing items that we used to import from China,” he added.
He stressed that practical education and vocational skills will help the youth secure employment and support Uganda’s industrial agenda.
Strengthening the Health Sector in Karamoja
On health, President Museveni outlined progress in expanding medical services in Kotido District, which currently has one referral hospital and seven Health Centre IIIs.
“We are upgrading Kacheri Health Centre III to IV, and converting several others like Lokiding, Losakucha, Lopuyo, and Nakwakwa from Health Centre IIs to IIIs. New Health Centre IIIs will also be constructed in the West and North Divisions,” he announced.
These upgrades, he said, are part of the NRM’s long-term goal of ensuring equitable healthcare across all regions.
First Lady Urges Karamoja to Embrace Transformation
In her remarks, the First Lady, Maama Janet Museveni, expressed her joy at returning to Karamoja, which she described as “home.”
“I am so happy to be in Karamoja. Coming here is like coming home,” she said.
She urged the residents to embrace transformation in the next *Kisanja* (term), emphasizing the government’s vision of eradicating poverty and improving living conditions.
“The message of transformation is very important for Karamoja in the next Kisanja so that there will be tremendous development in the whole sub-region,” she added.
She called on families to abandon grass-thatched houses and adopt modern, permanent structures as a sign of progress.
Local Leaders Applaud Museveni’s Commitment
Dr. Lokii John Baptist, the NRM Vice Chairperson for Karamoja region, thanked President Museveni for restoring democracy and peace, saying the disarmament program had finally brought stability.
He commended the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) for their role in removing illegal guns from communities and pledged full support for Museveni in the upcoming elections.
Dr. Lochap Paul, the NRM Chairperson for Kotido District, praised the government for upgrading key roads to tarmac, saying the move has spurred trade and local growth.
He appealed for the creation of Kapeta District to bring services closer to the people and requested clemency for Karachunas who were involved in past disarmament incidents.
He further lauded the establishment of the skilling hub in Napak District, which he said is already training hundreds of youth from across the Karamoja sub-region.
A Region Poised for Renewal
As President Museveni wrapped up his rally, his message was clear — peace has laid the foundation for Karamoja’s rebirth.
Through industrialization, improved infrastructure, and investment in human capital, the region once known for insecurity is now positioned to become a cornerstone of Uganda’s economic transformation.
“Peace is the beginning of everything. Once there is peace, development and prosperity follow,” Museveni concluded.
