NAPAK.President Museveni braved a heavy downpour on Thursday 30th October 2025, as he addressed his final campaign rally in Karamoja, delivering a passionate appeal for peace, wealth creation, and the consolidation of the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) achievements in the region.
The rally, held at Matany Grounds in Napak District, drew thousands of enthusiastic supporters who cheered as President Museveni, soaked but undeterred, declared, “I’ve been a cattle keeper since the age of four and I don’t fear the rain. In Ntungamo, when you abandon the cows to go for shelter, the cows will go to the gardens, destroy people’s crops, and that becomes a crime.”
The NRM Presidential candidate reflected on peace and stability, revisiting the painful history of insecurity in Karamoja and the struggle to disarm armed warriors.
“There were arguments that we should leave you with guns to protect yourselves from fellow rustlers from neighboring countries,” President Museveni recalled. “But I said No, that is suicide. You have now seen the results.”
He thanked the people of Karamoja for supporting the disarmament campaign, describing it as a historic contribution to national unity and security.
“I remember a function at Kangole where many people came to hand over guns, and women played a big role for the peace of Karamoja. Recently, even the Karachunas came out and handed over guns, thank you so much,” he said, noting that peace in Karamoja has contributed to harmony across Uganda.
President Museveni emphasized that Uganda’s progress rests on the NRM’s founding principles of patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation, and democracy. He described himself as a “wealth creator” who depends on his own labor and the markets of fellow Ugandans.
“I have looked after my ancestors’ cattle since I was four. I depend on myself. All I need from other Ugandans is a market to buy my milk, beef, and bananas. Anyone who buys my products is helping me to be rich,” he said.
“I’m glad the NRM accepted this ideology, and that’s why Uganda is stable and developing,” President Museveni said, drawing applause from the crowd.
Highlighting progress in education, candidate Museveni outlined that Napak District has 30 government primary schools, 44 private primary schools, 3 government secondary schools, and 1 private secondary school.
He said the government was constructing five new secondary schools, which will leave only six sub-counties without a government secondary school upon completion.
“The plan is to have one government secondary school per sub-county and one technical school per district. What has been achieved is noted, and what has not been done will be done. That’s why we are asking you for your support,” President Museveni told supporters.
However, he expressed disappointment at those sabotaging his vision for free education.
“For a long time, I wanted free education in government schools,” he lamented. “But some school managers have turned everything into money. They charge unnecessary fees and block children from studying.”
To counter this, H.E. Museveni said he started Presidential Skilling Hubs, one of which is in Napak to train youth for free.
“These children had lost hope because they lacked school fees. But after six months of training, they are making shoes, furniture, hospital beds, and bags – items that were being imported from China and India,” he said.
He urged voters to insist on free education in government schools, warning that school charges were “destroying the future of young Ugandans.”
On health, President Museveni said Napak’s 14 sub-counties had only five Health Centre IIIs, leaving nine sub-counties without a health facility.
He announced plans to upgrade several facilities such as Nabawal HCII to HCIII, Ngoleriet HCII to HCIII, Lokiteded HCII to HCIII, and Morulinga HCII to HCIII. Some of the ongoing works include upgrading Iriiri HCIII to HCIV.
“In the next term, every sub-county will have at least a health centre III, and Napak will have its own hospital,” President Museveni promised.
Shifting to household income and wealth creation, the President drew a sharp contrast between development and wealth, explaining that while development projects are government-led, wealth creation is personal.
“There’s a tarmac road in Matany. But do you sleep on a tarmac road? No. You sleep in your houses, and the poverty you left there welcomes you back. Development is ours, but wealth and poverty are yours,” he emphasized.
President Museveni reiterated the NRM’s long-standing message of commercializing small-scale farming through the four-acre model, which encourages families to engage in dairy, poultry, horticulture, and cash crops.
He cited success stories from across Uganda, including George Matongo of Nakaseke, an uneducated farmer who earns UGX 250 million annually from selling 900 litres of milk per day, and Korea Dick of Abim, who earns Shs 12 million annually from mango farming, selling to the Soroti Fruit Factory.
“These are examples of people who listened to our message. So, I appeal to you, chase poverty from your homes,” he said.
Regarding the issue of jobs, the President emphasized that jobs come from wealth, not merely from government employment.
He cited Hon. Fred Byamukama of Kakumiro District, who runs a four-acre model farm with cows, poultry, bananas, and piggery. From eggs alone, Byamukama earns Shs 55 million in profits per month, about Shs700 million a year, and employs 26 people.
“This man, who had no job himself, is now employing 26 people. The wealth of Byamukama is creating jobs for 26 other Ugandans. So, if you want to know where jobs come from, they come from wealth creation, like commercial agriculture,” H.E. Museveni said.
He contrasted this with the limited 480,000 government jobs, compared to the 1.3 million jobs created by Uganda’s growing factories.
President Museveni praised the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni for her voluntary work in Karamoja.
“I appointed a minister for Karamoja, but he declined, thinking it was a demotion. But Maama Janet accepted and worked hard. She built water dams and improved food security. When she was here, Karamoja even started sending food to Mbale,” H.E. Museveni said.
He announced a new plan to expand individualized water systems for commercial farmers in Karamoja to promote irrigation and resilience against drought.
“I appeal to you to continue supporting the NRM so that we can consolidate what we have done and also do more. The rest will be done,” President Museveni said.
Taking the podium, Maama Janet thanked Napak residents for their unwavering support for NRM.
“All Ugandan adults have a responsibility to protect this peace and unity for the continuation of development,” she declared, urging the residents to re-elect President Museveni and NRM leaders in the 2026 elections.
“Remember, we all have the responsibility to vote for this President and all NRM leaders so that we can build and transform Uganda. God bless Napak, Karamoja, and Uganda. Arakara noi!”
The NRM Vice Chairman for Karamoja, Hon. Lokii John Baptist, congratulated President Museveni for successfully concluding the regional campaigns.
“Napak and Karamoja are celebrating the achievements of NRM over the years,” he said, adding that Napak is willing to push close to 100% vote.
The NRM Chairman for Napak District, Mr. Mark Longole presented a report showing visible transformation in Napak’s sectors such as education, health, water, security, and peace. He revealed that Shs 17.83 billion in Parish Development Model (PDM) funds had been disbursed to 17,867 beneficiaries across 57 SACCOs, representing 42.8% of households in the district.
Napak has also benefited from programs such as Emyooga, Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP), Women Entrepreneurship Programme, and SAGE for the elderly.
On the Emyooga, the district has 34 SACCOs with 9,195 members, who have so far received Shs 1.16 billion.
Mr. Longole thanked the government for integrating 2,114 former warriors after disarmament, noting that peace has unlocked development potential across the district.
Despite the progress, he tabled several requests to the President which included, creation of a new district, Iriiri separate from Napak, construction of a district hospital, restocking of households affected by disarmament, and strengthening youth SACCOs with Shs 2.5 billion as a revolving fund. Other requests were the extension of electricity to the remaining sub-counties and the resolution of the long-standing land dispute between Napak and Teso.
Napak district remains one of NRM’s strongest areas. In the 2021 Presidential Elections, out of 56,678 registered voters, President Museveni secured 32,490 votes (94.1%), while the National Unity Platform (NUP) managed to get 912 votes (2.6%).
According to the 2024 census, Napak has a population of 211,830, and the number of registered voters has increased to 62,688 in 2025, up by over 6,000 new voters. The district now has 181 polling stations, up from 145 in 2021, signaling administrative expansion and voter mobilization progress.
Several government officials attended the rally, and they included Hon. Peter Lokeris (Minister for Karamoja Affairs), Hon. Florence Nambozo (State Minister for Karamoja), Hon. Balam Barugahara (State Minister for the Youth and Children Affairs), and Hon. Akello Rose Lilly (Ethics & Integrity). Others were Members of Parliament, local district leaders, and security chiefs.