President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has pledged to upgrade road infrastructure in the Lango sub-region, saying improved connectivity is key to unlocking trade, tourism, and development.
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential flagbearer was speaking on Sunday to more than 15,000 party leaders at Lango College in Lira City, one of his largest mobilisation meetings since the start of the campaign trail.
Museveni acknowledged concerns about the region’s limited tarmac coverage and promised to address gaps in access, especially for communities in Amolatar, Dokolo, and Alebtong.
“I’m going to study the issue of eastern access, the one you talked about. That one makes sense,” President Museveni said. “It makes no sense for someone from Namasale in Amolatar to travel all the way through Lira, Kamdini, and Karuma when Nakasongola is just across the water.”
His remarks followed a proposal by Government Chief Whip, Denis Hamson Obua, who called for the inclusion of the Dokolo–Bata–Abako–Aloe road into major ongoing upgrade plans to boost linkages and reduce travel time between Lango and neighbouring regions.
Obua said improved road networks would also support ferry services in Amolatar and Kaberamaido, enhance market access, and strengthen tourism flows toward Kidepo Valley National Park. He noted that Lango currently has only 5% tarmac road coverage, the lowest nationwide.
Museveni pointed to progress already made, including upgrades on the Soroti–Lira road, Rwenkunyu–Masindi Port–Lira–Apac road, and ongoing works on the Bobi–Aboke road.
“These have been done through prioritization,” Museveni said.
He urged residents to maintain peace and stability, recalling decades of conflict that left Lango deeply affected by the Idi Amin regime, civil wars, LRA insurgency, and cattle rustling. “The people of Lango know what lack of peace means,” he said.
Museveni also said the NRM is exploring a policy to pay monthly salaries to select grassroots leaders, although he cautioned that such support must be financially sustainable. Wealth creation programs, he argued, remain a more effective tool for empowering communities.
“The best way is to help families to have their own income to support themselves and the party, where needed,” he said.
After the Lira engagement, the President is set to continue his campaign in Kamwenge and Kyegegwa districts.
