When President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni arrived in Amudat on Tuesday, the crowd that greeted him was a living image of transformation. What was once a small, insecure settlement of barely 20,000 people in 1980 has become a bustling border district of more than 200,000 residents, a change the President described as “a miracle made possible by peace.”
“If you want to know that miracles are possible in Africa, come to Karamoja and come to Amudat,” Museveni said, as thousands cheered him on during a rally in Amudat Town. “When I see that the population of Amudat has grown from 20,000 to over 200,000, I thank God for being part of that miracle.”
The President, accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, urged residents to continue supporting the National Resistance Movement (NRM), saying its track record of peace, development and wealth creation is visible across Uganda.
“Tell those who ask why you support the NRM that it is because our manifesto reflects tangible achievements over the past 40 years, peace, development and wealth creation for all, to eliminate poverty,” Museveni said.
He attributed Amudat’s transformation to the peace and stability secured through deliberate government action. “Before the NRM, constituencies were created ad hoc,” Museveni explained. “We insisted that each constituency must correspond with a county and that is how Upe became a constituency.”
The President outlined seven key contributions the NRM has made to Uganda: peace and security, infrastructure, social services, political stability, education, and wealth creation. He emphasized that peace remains the cornerstone of all progress, recalling the tough but successful disarmament of the Karamojong.
“Some said you cannot disarm Karamoja unless you disarm the Turkana, Pokot, Topoth or even people in Sudan and Ethiopia. But I told them I am not here to disarm Africa, I am here to disarm my people,” Museveni said.
He condemned recent cross-border violence, revealing that Uganda had barred Turkana herders from entering the country after they killed three Ugandans, including a government surveyor. “If these criminals don’t have money, the Kenya government must pay,” he said. “After the elections, I will come with President Ruto to Moroto to perform a cleansing ceremony for the blood that was shed.”
Turning to development, Museveni highlighted ongoing improvements such as roads, electricity and water infrastructure across Karamoja. “We now have electricity, telephones and roads reaching Nakapiripirit and soon coming to Amudat. We have solar-powered irrigation systems and valley dams that support both livestock and crops,” he said.
He acknowledged, however, that access to clean water in Amudat remains low, standing at only 18 percent. Museveni directed the Minister for Karamoja Affairs to urgently address the issue and ensure new water systems reach every community.
“We are also working on a plan for water supply in rural areas, beyond the valley dams,” he added. “Communal sources alone may not meet the need, so we are studying a cost-effective way to provide individualised water supplies for our wealth creators.”
The President cautioned local leaders against neglecting road maintenance, saying infrastructure must be preserved to sustain development. “I have warned the Minister of Works and the Minister of Local Government, I don’t want to hear again of a major road that is impassable,” he said.
Earlier, Maama Janet Museveni had praised Amudat’s overwhelming support for the ruling party. “Thank you for proudly voting NRM almost 100%. We celebrate Amudat and Karamoja for that vote. I trust that even this time, we will make sure Amudat votes 100% for the President and 100% for the whole line-up of NRM leaders,” she said.
She reminded residents that the NRM government belongs to them and has worked tirelessly to secure peace. “The NRM government is your government. It has worked so hard to make sure Karamoja becomes peaceful like any other part of Uganda. So please ensure that everybody votes so that we protect our gains and take a qualitative leap for the poor of Uganda, including Karamoja,” she said.
As Museveni’s campaign trail heads next to Nakapiripirit and Nabilatuk on Wednesday, his message to the people of Karamoja remains clear: peace is the foundation of progress and with it, the region’s transformation, once unthinkable, has become a living miracle.
