KATAKWI, Uganda — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged the people of Katakwi to take full advantage of the peace secured under the NRM government to create wealth and improve their livelihoods.
The President, accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, addressed thousands of residents who turned up at Katakwi Booma Grounds to welcome him and reaffirm their support for the NRM.
Museveni commended the people of Katakwi for being steadfast witnesses to the peace and stability Uganda now enjoys. He recalled the days of insecurity when residents lived in camps, saying the region’s transformation reflected the NRM’s success in restoring order and safety.
“The people of Katakwi are the best witnesses of peace. I camped here when everyone had fled to IDP camps. Today, all that is history. The NRM defeated the rebels and cattle rustlers, removing 41,000 guns from Karamoja,” Museveni said. “That is why people are back in their villages.”
He noted that peace was the cornerstone of Uganda’s transformation, followed by progress in roads, water, education, and health. Museveni highlighted completed and ongoing road projects, including the Soroti–Moroto, Soroti–Lira, Katine–Ochero, and Soroti–Amuria–Obalanga–Otuke routes.
In water access, he reported that 342 of Katakwi’s 550 villages now have boreholes representing 52% coverage and pledged that every village would soon have at least one borehole. He also cited piped water projects at Abwenget, Kapujan, Usuk–Koritok, Toroma, Magoro, and Katakwi Town Council, alongside new irrigation and flood-control systems to help farmers adapt to climate challenges.
On education, the President said Katakwi has 78 government primary schools and 10 secondary schools, promising that every parish would eventually have a primary school and every sub-county a secondary school. He also mentioned ongoing upgrades at Katakwi General Hospital, Toroma Health Centre IV, and other health facilities.
Turning to wealth creation, Museveni encouraged residents to differentiate between national development and personal prosperity.
“The NRM brings development roads, schools, electricity but wealth must be created by you in your homes. Development is ours; wealth is yours,” he emphasized.
He said the government’s livestock restocking program, which had faced delays, was back on track, with each household set to receive five cows. He also highlighted the impact of skilling hubs, where youth are being trained to produce hospital beds, shoes, and other goods previously imported from abroad.
First Lady Maama Janet Museveni praised the unity and loyalty of the Katakwi community, urging them to continue nurturing peace and patriotism. She commended President Museveni’s leadership and encouraged NRM members to reach out to new supporters, noting that “growth in numbers strengthens both the party and the nation.”
Vice President Jessica Alupo, also the Woman MP for Katakwi, thanked the President for his continued support to the Teso sub-region through initiatives like the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga. NRM Vice Chairperson Anita Among pledged unwavering support for Museveni, crediting him for ending cattle rustling and empowering local leaders.
Local leaders, including Hon. Calvin Echodu and Mr. Okiror John Robert Claire, reaffirmed Katakwi’s commitment to the NRM, saying peace and government programs had transformed the district’s fortunes.
As he concluded, President Museveni reminded the people that peace was only the foundation for transformation.
“Where there is peace, there will be development. And where there is development, there must be wealth,” he said. “Let us use this peace to create wealth in every home.”