President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged the people of Lango to defend the gains of peace, unity, and development in the region.ย
He made his remarks today while addressing thousands of supporters at his presidential campaign rally at Alebtong Primary School in Alebtong in Lango Sub-Region of Northern Uganda.
The campaign is run under the theme: โProtecting the Gains, Making a Qualitative Leap into High Middle-Income Status.โ
He reminded them of the painful past marked by war, displacement, and cattle raids, and called on them to secure the future through the continued leadership of the National Resistance Movement.
For decades, the people of Lango endured a painful history of war, displacement, cattle raids, and poverty. A region once torn by the brutality of Idi Amin, the LRA insurgency, and endless insecurity, is now standing on the foundation of peace and development secured under the leadership of President Museveni.ย
He told the gathering that the NRM message is not new but rooted in a 65-year journey of liberation, unity, peace, and development
โMy message to you is already in the manifesto, but the message of the NRM goes back almost 65 years, from the 1960s when we were still in the studentsโ movement,โ President Museveni said.
He added: โWe were in all parties UPC Kabaka Yekka until we saw the problems of Uganda and started designing solutions. So, you can say that for the last 65 years, NRM with Uganda and Africa has been about liberation, unity, peace, and development.โ
The President reminded Ugandans that NRM has always opposed sectarianism, dictatorship, and divisionism, citing the UPC Kabaka Yekka alliance of the 1960s and Idi Aminโs regime in the 1970s
โWhen DP and UPC divided the UNLF between 1979 and 1980, we opposed Iddi Amin because we wanted unity, that is how NRM took charge, and since that time, you have never heard of one tribe massacring another in the army. Even those who were not with us, we brought them peacefully to our side,โ Museveni said
He emphasized that unity remains central to the NRM vision.
โWe donโt believe in the division of tribes or religion or in looking down upon women or the youth. Everyone is valuable. In 1962, Uganda had only three women in Parliament, yet women are 50% of the population. We have since changed that.โ
On peace and security, President Museveni attributed Ugandaโs stability to the discipline of the UPDF
โWe have a disciplined army. We donโt look at bribes, tribes, or religion. We ask are you a good soldier? That is why every district contributes recruits, and that is why we have peace nowโ
Turning to development and wealth creation, Museveni highlighted infrastructure achievements and promised more roads in Lango and Karamoja
โWhen we came into government even without enough money, we worked on the Tororo Mbale Soroti Dokolo Lira Kamdini road. Today we are completing Rwenkunyu Masindi Port Apac Lira Puranga and soon we shall work on Lira Aloi Apala Alebtong Abimโ
He reminded the people that NRM had also discovered Ugandaโs oil after the colonial powers failed
โIt was NRM that discovered Ugandaโs oil after the British failed from 1920 to 1956. Once production starts, Uganda will earn an extra $2b annually, if you elect me, I will not allow that money to be wasted on whiskey and perfumes It will go to roads, railways, electricity, and schools.โ
Listing achievements specific to Alebtong, President Museveni pointed to expanded electricity coverage, improved roads, government schools, and access to programs such as the Parish Development Model Emyooga Youth and Women Funds.
โOn electricity, Alebtong didnโt have electricity before NRM even Kitgum, Moroto, Kaboong, Ntungamo, Kabale didnโt have electricity, but you can see it now. On the telephones, when NRM came to government, we had 23,000 telephone lines only, today we have 28 million telephones,โ he noted.
โDespite limited resources, NRM has delivered tangible services because Museveni has been around fighting Lakwena the LRA cattle rustlers, and many others. I know these parts. If anyone claims NRM will not deliver, ask them who has built Rwenkunyu Apac Lira Puranga now almost reaching Kitgum,โ he said.
On Education, he said: โAlebtong has 76 government UPE schools, and 106,244 pupils, the primary schools are many, the parish primary schools are 42, the ones without are 27, so that is a challenge, but we shall work on it,โ.
On agriculture, President Museveni celebrated the success of Ugandans who embraced commercial farming such as Byamukama who earns 55 million shillings a month from poultry.
โAt independence, only 9% of Ugandans were in the money economy. By 2013, it was 32%, today, it is 67 percent. The remaining 33% must join. In this Kisanja, we shall ensure all Ugandans enter the money economy through the agriculture industry and services.โ
Speaker of Parliament and NRM Second National Vice Chairperson Rt. Hon. Anitah Among praised Museveni as the candidate who has given Ugandans hope.
โNo leader ever thought of giving money directly to village people, but President Museveni has done it through PDM. We thank you for restoring peace in Northern Uganda and for bringing unity to this region. We shall forever be indebted to you, and we are going to give you the vote,โ Hon. Among said.
The NRM Secretary General, Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong, also stressed the partyโs focus on the daily lives of Ugandans
โNRM is about your hoes, your hospitals, your schools, your children attend, and the roads you use. We are with youโ he said
The Chief Whip, Hon. Denis Obua, called on the people of Alebtong to rally behind Museveni
โYour Excellency, you know where we are, where we came from, and where we are going. I ask my people to support President Museveni, and we shall not regret,โ Hon. Obua said.
The event was graced by NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) members, Members of Parliament, religious and cultural leaders, as well as thousands of supporters.
