When President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni returned to Katakwi this week, it was not just another campaign stop, it was a homecoming to a place that once bore the scars of war, displacement, and despair. As he stood before thousands at Katakwi Booma Grounds, the memories of insecurity that once engulfed the Teso sub-region came rushing back.
“I camped here when everyone had fled to IDP camps,” he recalled, his voice firm yet reflective. “I remember visiting Ngariam after the massacres and Achowa camp. All that is now history. The NRM defeated the rebels and disarmed the cattle rustlers, removing 41,000 guns from Karamoja. That is why people are back in their villages.”
For many in the crowd, Museveni’s words resonated deeply. Katakwi has lived through decades of insecurity and witnessed its gradual transformation under the peace ushered in by the National Resistance Movement (NRM).
From Guns to Growth
The President reminded residents that peace was the foundation of all the progress Uganda enjoys today. “The NRM’s first contribution was peace and security. Development came after that,” he said.
He highlighted several infrastructure projects that have changed the face of Teso, including the Soroti to Moroto and Soroti to Lira roads. He also announced upcoming works on the Katine to Ochero and Soroti to Amuria to Obalanga to Achanipi to Otuke roads, stressing the need for proper supervision of road funds.
“We are going to be strict with the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Local Government to ensure the Shs 1.3 billion sent annually for marram road maintenance is properly utilized,” he said.
Expanding Water Access
Museveni revealed that Katakwi’s 550 villages now boast 342 boreholes, representing over half of the district’s clean water coverage. He pledged that every remaining village would soon have at least one borehole.
The district’s six piped water systems located in Abwenget, Kapujan, Usuk to Koritok, Toroma, Magoro, and Katakwi Town Council, are being expanded to reach more communities. Irrigation works in Ongongoja and Usuk are also underway to boost agricultural productivity and fight food insecurity.
Education and Health Commitments
Turning to education, the President noted that Katakwi has 78 government primary schools and 10 government secondary schools, serving 109 parishes and 20 sub-counties. He pledged that every parish will get a primary school, while every sub-county will have a secondary school.
Regarding health, Museveni reported ongoing construction and upgrades in facilities across the district. Katakwi currently has one hospital, one Health Centre IV, and 10 Health Centre IIIs. New health units are being built in Amusia, Getom, Okore, and Angodingod sub-counties, while operating theatres are being installed at Toroma HCIV and Katakwi General Hospital.
Building Wealth, Not Dependence
The President also took time to differentiate between development and wealth creation. “NRM brings development, roads, schools, electricity, but wealth must be created by you in your homes. Development is ours, wealth is yours,” he said.
He announced plans to distribute five cows per household as part of restocking efforts and highlighted the success of skilling hubs that train jobless youth in hands-on skills such as metal fabrication and carpentry. “These youth are now producing hospital beds, shoes and other items that were being imported from China and Italy. This is the practical way to fight poverty,” he added.
A Call for Unity and Gratitude
The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, joined the President in thanking Katakwi residents for their faith in the NRM. “God has used President Museveni and the NRM government to establish a firm foundation of peace and unity that has enabled national stability,” she said.
She urged Ugandans to rededicate themselves to serving their country under the spirit of peace and patriotism. “Let us extend a hand of friendship to those who have not yet joined the Movement. They are not enemies; they simply may not understand what the NRM has done for Uganda,” she said.
Local Leaders Pledge Support
Vice President Jessica Alupo, who also serves as the Woman MP for Katakwi District, praised the President for his unwavering commitment to transforming the region. She cited projects like Soroti University and wealth creation programs that have changed livelihoods.
Calvin Echodu and Okiror John Robert Claire echoed similar sentiments, thanking Museveni for initiatives like Emyooga and the Parish Development Model that continue to uplift communities across Katakwi.
As the sun set over Katakwi Booma Grounds, the rally felt less like a political event and more like a celebration of resilience, a community’s journey from fear to freedom, from displacement to development.
And in the words of the President: “Peace is the seed; development is the fruit.”
