President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Friday told supporters in Lira City that peace remains the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) greatest contribution to Uganda and the foundation upon which all development rests.
Addressing a large crowd at his second campaign rally of the day, President Museveni who is also the NRM party flagbearer warned against any attempts to destabilise the country, saying Uganda’s progress in infrastructure, energy, agriculture and industry has only been possible because of sustained peace.
“Peace is the foundation of everything. No one should dare disturb Uganda’s peace,” President Museveni said, recalling years of political instability, cattle rustling and widespread insecurity before the NRM took power.
The President said development followed peace as the NRM’s second major contribution, citing projects that could not be realised during earlier periods of instability.
He pointed to Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, noting that plans to build it existed as far back as 1968 but failed due to insecurity.
“Because of peace brought by the NRM, we were able to build Namboole and other stadiums such as Akii-Bua Stadium here in Lira, Hoima Stadium, and undertake major projects like Karuma Hydropower,” he said.
President Museveni added that government is planning additional power projects, including Ayago, to support industrial growth.
He also highlighted Uganda’s oil discovery, explaining that although British explorers attempted to find oil in the 1920s, it took a peaceful environment and modern technology for Uganda to confirm commercially viable reserves.
According to the President, oil production is expected to commence this year.
Turning to environmental conservation, President Museveni cautioned communities in Lango, Teso and Acholi against destroying wetlands, describing them as critical for irrigation and fish farming.
“Lango, Teso and Acholi are very lucky because of these swamps. Fish farming and irrigation can give very high yields on small pieces of land,” he said.
He explained that fish farming can be done along wetland fringes while preserving water for irrigating crops on dry land, citing his own farm where he harvests 53 tonnes of matooke per hectare.
President Museveni said government plans are underway to expand fish farming along wetlands across the three sub-regions.
On livestock restocking, the President said government had earlier released Shs159 billion for compensation in Lango, Acholi and Teso, but the impact was limited.
He said his initial proposal of household-based restocking with three to five cows per family was later revised after local leaders consulted communities and opted for monetary compensation.
“The money is available, but it will be given after proper scrutiny of beneficiary lists,” he said.
The President described wealth creation as the NRM’s third major contribution, urging households to move beyond subsistence farming and embrace commercial agriculture.
He revisited the four-acre model introduced in the 1996 NRM manifesto, encouraging farmers with limited land to invest in enterprises such as coffee, bananas, piggery and poultry.
He cited Fred Byamukama as an example of success on just four acres of land.
President Museveni also outlined government wealth creation programmes, including Entandikwa, Operation Wealth Creation, Emyooga and the Parish Development Model.
Under the Parish Development Model, he said, every adult parish member can access Shs1 million through SACCOs to support income-generating activities.
On employment, the President said jobs are created through factories, services, ICT and commercial agriculture, rather than relying solely on government jobs.
The NRM Vice Chairperson for Northern Uganda, Hamson Obua, said the next NRM term would be the best yet, citing visible wealth creation programmes and infrastructure developments in Lira.
NRM Chairperson for Lira District, Auma Linda Agnes, pledged increased support for the party, attributing it to improved unity among local leaders.
She also reminded the President about the pending creation of Erute District, which she said Parliament had already approved.
Lira City NRM Chairperson, Dr. Ruth Aceng, praised President Museveni for his long-standing cooperation with the Lango sub-region and thanked him for projects including Akii-Bua Stadium and the USMID programme, which has led to the tarmacking of more than 30 kilometres of roads in Lira City.
