MOYO. President Museveni has pledged to make education in government schools completely free and to expand wealth creation initiatives aimed at transforming households into active players in Uganda’s money economy.
Addressing a mammoth crowd during a presidential campaign rally at Celecelea Stadium in Moyo District on Friday October 17, 2025, President Museveni said the next phase of the NRM government will focus on ensuring that no child is denied education because of school fees and that every family participates in income-generating activities.
“I have been having people who don’t listen to my idea of free education. That’s why I started skilling hubs where children pay nothing. In the next government, we shall make education in government schools completely free,” he said, revealing that the government plans to recruit 50,000 new teachers to address staffing gaps.
He said that while Uganda has registered great strides in development — including new roads, electricity, and social services — many people still confuse development with wealth.
“When you return home in the evening, the poverty you left in the morning is still waiting for you. That is why we in the NRM have always emphasized wealth creation alongside development,” the President said.
He recalled that the NRM began advocating for household income generation in the 1960s and was often misunderstood.
“Some people used to say Kaguta’s son has become a communist, asking how everyone can be rich. But those who listened — especially in the cattle corridor — are now successful, with good houses, educated children, and stable incomes,” he noted.
President Museveni cited his four-acre model demonstration farm in the Lango Sub-region, where he earns UGX 100 million from one fishpond, as proof that small-scale farmers can create wealth with proper planning.
He added that the government intends to turn the Nile Valley into a major fish farming zone, saying, “Not in the Nile itself, but along the sides and swamps.”
The President thanked the people of Moyo for their unwavering support to the NRM, describing them as “long-standing comrades” in the struggle for peace and prosperity.
He also paid tribute to the family of the late Moses Abiriga, one of the NRM’s earliest mobilizers in the region.
He reminded the gathering that peace, which Uganda now enjoys, is the foundation of all progress.
“Before Independence, Uganda was always at war, but since 2007, the NRM stopped all those conflicts. Peace is not by accident. It’s because we rejected the politics of sectarianism and gender chauvinism. Sectarian politics is suicidal,” he said.
The President further explained that the NRM’s ideology of patriotism and Pan-Africanism has helped build strong national institutions such as the army, judiciary and police, ensuring stability across the country. He added that each district contributes to army recruitment, which has helped build a truly national force.
On infrastructure, President Museveni said the government has connected Moyo District to the national electricity grid through Gulu and is upgrading key roads like the Karuma–Pakwach–Nebbi Road among others.
He, however, urged local leaders not to neglect road maintenance.
“Don’t wait for roads to get spoiled. Whether tarmac or marrum, repair them before they deteriorate,” he advised.
At the same event, President Museveni, who is also the NRM National Chairman, welcomed 114 Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) members and 64 National Unity Platform (NUP) members who defected to the NRM.
The Moyo District NRM Chairperson, Mr. Ayanyama Williams, thanked the President for implementing transformative programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM), which he said has already improved livelihoods in the district. He also thanked the government for supporting Moyo Technical Institute and appealed for its upgrade to a diploma and degree-awarding institution.
Mr. Ayanyama further appreciated the ongoing road construction projects and urged continued investment in infrastructure and education to sustain growth in Moyo.