President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) to permit controlled grazing within parts of the Pian-Upe Wildlife Reserve, marking a significant shift in the long-standing tension between conservation efforts and pastoralist livelihoods in Nakapiripirit District.
Speaking during a campaign rally at Naturum Village, Namboole 2 Trading Centre in Nakapiripirit District, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate said the decision is part of a broader plan to balance wildlife protection with sustainable community development.
Museveni’s directive followed an appeal by the NRM Chairperson for Nakapiripirit District, Daniel Ochap Matovu, who reported that pastoralists had been denied access to grazing areas within the conservation zone, leading to hardship among local cattle keepers.
In response, Museveni granted a special waiver to allow limited grazing while emphasizing that the community must learn modern farming practices and environmental conservation.
He said the government would soon launch programs to train local elders and youth in modern agriculture, sustainable rangeland management, and the benefits of wildlife-based tourism.
“The government will allow limited grazing in Pian-Upe, but our people must also understand how to benefit from tourism, irrigation, and commercial agriculture,” Museveni said. “We shall teach them how to use the land productively without destroying it.”
Balancing Conservation and Livelihoods
The President’s decision comes amid years of tension between UWA and local communities living near Pian-Upe, Uganda’s second-largest protected area after Murchison Falls National Park.
The reserve, covering over 2,000 square kilometers, is home to rare wildlife species including roan antelopes, cheetahs, and Uganda kob, but it also overlaps with traditional grazing areas used by the Pokot and Pian pastoral communities.
For decades, these communities have relied on the reserve for dry-season grazing, often leading to clashes with UWA rangers. Museveni’s latest directive seeks to defuse this conflict by introducing a regulated coexistence framework that promotes both conservation and livelihood security.
“Conservation must not mean suffering,” Museveni said. “If wildlife and people can live together in harmony, both will thrive. We can use this area to promote eco-tourism and modern farming at the same time.”
Infrastructure and Development Commitments
Museveni also used the rally to outline major infrastructure projects aimed at transforming Nakapiripirit’s economy.
He cited the completed 93-kilometre Mbale–Muyembe–Nakapiripirit Highway as a symbol of the NRM government’s commitment to connecting the Karamoja sub-region to national markets.
He revealed that access to clean water in the district now stands at nearly 80 percent, thanks to the construction of boreholes and large water dams.
“I have directed that we complete the irrigation scheme with a capacity of 11.8 billion litres, covering over 700 hectares, to ensure that people here can grow crops throughout the year,” Museveni announced.
On education, the President pledged to construct government schools in every sub-county and parish without one under the equitable school distribution policy.
“We want every child in Nakapiripirit to access free universal education,” Museveni said. “Education is the foundation of wealth creation and national transformation.”
He also reaffirmed his commitment to youth skilling through the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs, urging parents and local leaders to prioritize education over early marriages and cattle raids.
Health, Security, and Social Welfare
The NRM candidate further promised to upgrade several health facilities in the district to improve healthcare delivery. Among these are Moruita HCII in Moruita Sub-County and Lomuronyagae HCII in Kawaach Sub-County, both of which will be elevated to HCIII status. New health centers will also be constructed at Lemusui, Akuyam (Kakomongole Sub-County), and Loreng (Loreng Sub-County).
Museveni also cautioned against the idea of arming civilians, warning that allowing local communities to possess firearms could reignite violence in Karamoja.
“Giving everyone a gun is dangerous,” he said. “It will only bring back criminality and insecurity. Government will continue protecting you from cross-border attacks by the Pokot and Turkana, so you can focus on wealth creation.”
Promoting Wealth Creation and Market Access
Museveni reiterated that Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) and the Parish Development Model (PDM) remain central to his administration’s efforts to empower rural households. He promised to help farmers in Nakapiripirit access better markets and end exploitation by middlemen.
“We want our farmers to earn from their sweat,” he said. “When you produce, you must sell at a fair price. That is what we are working on — organized production and organized marketing.”
The President urged residents not to be swayed by opposition politicians, whom he accused of spreading misinformation about government programs. “The opposition only talks,” Museveni said. “We are the ones who act — who build roads, schools, and hospitals.”
Voices of Support
First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, echoed the President’s message, pledging continued efforts to improve peace, housing, and social services across the Karamoja sub-region.
“We are working to ensure that the people of Nakapiripirit live in dignity — in peace, with better homes, schools, and hospitals,” she said.
NRM National Vice Chairperson (Female), Anita Among, rallied the crowd to protect the district’s progress by re-electing Museveni and all NRM flag bearers.
She said the government’s consistent investment in Karamoja was evidence of Museveni’s long-term commitment to regional stability and development.
District Chairperson Daniel Ochap Matovu also thanked the President for responding to local concerns and transforming Nakapiripirit’s infrastructure and livelihoods.
“The NRM government has changed this place from neglect to opportunity,” Matovu said. “We must protect these gains by supporting President Museveni’s leadership.”
Looking Ahead
As Uganda prepares for full oil production and continued industrial growth, Museveni’s campaign message in Nakapiripirit centered on inclusive development — ensuring that remote regions like Karamoja share in the national prosperity.
With new roads, irrigation projects, schools, and health centers underway, residents of Pian-Upe and Nakapiripirit now look forward to a future where conservation, agriculture, and development can coexist — a future built on stability, opportunity, and the promise of transformation.
