When President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s motorcade snaked through the plains of Nabilatuk on Wednesday, cheers rose from thousands of residents who had gathered at Lolachat Primary School Playground. The excitement was more than political, it was a celebration of transformation. For the people of Nabilatuk, the visit was both a reminder of how far they have come and a renewal of faith in the National Resistance Movement (NRM), the party they credit for turning decades of hardship into hope.
“I reminded them that Karamoja’s transformation is one of the NRM’s great success stories,” President Museveni told the crowd, joined by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni. “When we first came here, the population was about 190,000. Today, it has grown to over 1.5 million. That is the power of peace and continuous sensitization.”
For the residents, those words ring true. In the past, Karamoja was often synonymous with conflict, hunger, and cattle raids. But today, the region, especially Nabilatuk District stands as a quiet symbol of what the NRM government calls the dividends of peace and stability.
The Power of Peace and Development
Museveni told the gathering that peace has been the cornerstone of the region’s transformation. “You all are witnesses to how the NRM has been able to create peace in Karamoja and in the rest of Uganda,” he said, emphasizing that development follows where peace prevails.
From the tarmacked roads that connect Nabilatuk to Nakapiripirit, to the growing number of schools and health centres, the signs of development are visible. The district now boasts improved water facilities, a new seed secondary school at Lolachat, and several completed dams and reservoirs designed to support agriculture and livestock.
“Out of 96 rural villages, 44 have access to safe water, that is 46%. In Nakapiripirit, it is 82%. You should find out why,” Museveni challenged local leaders, promising more piped water systems and valley tanks to increase coverage.
Investing in Human Capital
The President and First Lady devoted much of their address to the future of education in the region. Under the Universal Primary and Secondary Education programs, Museveni reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring free schooling for all children, warning against illegal school charges that have kept many out of classrooms.
“The NRM wants mass education for everybody,” he said, adding that government plans to build one primary school per parish and one secondary school per sub-county. He also revealed that Karamoja could benefit from boarding sections in some schools due to security and accessibility challenges.
Maama Janet, whose bond with Karamoja stretches back to the early years of NRM’s leadership, called the visit a “homecoming.” She thanked residents for their loyalty and reminded them of the days when the region relied heavily on the World Food Programme.
“I am happy that now you are producing food and even keeping surplus in your granaries,” she said. “The work of the NRM now is to help the Karamojong make a qualitative leap from grass-thatched houses to modern homes.”
Health and Wealth Creation
President Museveni also announced plans to upgrade several health facilities in the district, including the elevation of Lolachat Health Centre II to Health Centre III, and new construction projects at Natarie, Lorengedwat, and Nabilatuk.
He encouraged residents to view wealth creation as a personal journey complementing government-led development. “You can have development and still remain poor. Development benefits everyone, but wealth creation is for an individual,” he said.
Museveni urged locals to engage in commercial agriculture, ICT, and hospitality, citing tourism as one of the untapped treasures of the sub-region. He also weighed in on community concerns about grazing rights within protected areas, saying the Uganda Wildlife Authority should find a balance between conservation and livelihoods.
A Future Rooted in Faith and Progress
As the sun dipped behind the Nabilatuk hills, the rally turned festive, drums echoed, and traditional dancers swayed in celebration. For the residents, the day was not just about politics but a reaffirmation of faith in a movement they say gave them peace, schools, and hope.
Museveni’s closing message summed up the spirit of the day: “With continued support from the people of Karamoja, we shall protect these gains and do even more especially in harnessing the region’s tourism and natural wealth for prosperity.”