While canvassing in the Karamoja sub-region, presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni urged residents to abandon nomadism and cattle rustling if they wish to benefit from the government’s transformative programs. He highlighted that these vices hinder development and that lasting change requires a shift in mindset.
To illustrate his point, Museveni referenced Kiruhuura District, where he guided the formerly nomadic community toward a settled lifestyle, resulting in significant cultural and economic transformation. The shift involved improving livestock quality from traditional Ankole long-horned cows to higher-yield Friesian breeds boosting milk production and household incomes. Residents were also encouraged to diversify into crop farming, hire labor for cultivation, commercialize livestock, and invest in their children’s formal education.
Museveni emphasized practical steps, such as fencing land, creating water sources, and adopting better livestock management practices. Settling in permanent homes brought additional benefits: improved diets with vegetables, healthier lifestyles, and access to better housing and transportation. Today, Kiruhuura residents enjoy higher household incomes, modern amenities, and diversified sources of revenue.
Critics have misinterpreted Museveni’s message, suggesting he boasted about Kiruhuura’s wealth or implied that the Karimojong are poor due to laziness. These claims are misleading. The transformation in Kiruhuura stems not from presidential favoritism but from decades of guidance, education, and adoption of productive practices. Even before becoming president, Museveni spent holidays educating Ankole nomads about the benefits of a settled lifestyle and improved cattle breeds.
Kiruhuura is now a national leader in milk production, generating 1.2 million liters daily about 60% of Uganda’s total milk and accounting for 45% of the country’s milk exports. This success demonstrates how mindset change, practical advice, and adoption of modern farming techniques can uplift communities.
President Museveni’s message to the Karimojong was clear: for sustainable development, nomadism and cattle rustling must end. The Kiruhuura example serves as a model for peaceful, voluntary transformation that empowers communities to achieve economic stability, healthier lifestyles, and lasting prosperity.