Museveni campaigns in Karamoja, highlights NRM gains
Kotido/Moroto, Uganda — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the incumbent and flag bearer of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), continued his presidential campaign in the Karamoja sub-region on October 27, 2025, emphasizing peace, development, and transformation as the foundation of Uganda’s progress under NRM leadership.
Accompanied by First Lady Maama Janet Museveni, the President addressed supporters in Kotido and Moroto districts, where he reflected on the region’s past insecurity and the government’s efforts to restore lasting peace.
“I recalled past discussions with some leaders of Karamoja who argued that because the area was violent, everyone should keep their guns,” Museveni said. “I told them that is like fire in the house; it is useful in the Ekemo (fireplace) for cooking, but if it goes to the bed, it burns the house. Guns must stay in the armoury of the armed forces.”
The President noted that the government’s disarmament initiative, launched years ago, has produced visible results. “Now you can see the results. Ekisil (peace) has returned,” he stated. “Because of that peace, we have extended electricity, built dams such as Sinat Valley, which holds 4.4 billion litres of water, and Kaoyagorok, and paved over 180 kilometres of roads. This transformation shows that peace is the foundation of development.”
Museveni reiterated that the NRM’s guiding philosophy of “peace, development, and transformation for all” remains central to its governance approach. “When people put down the guns and pick up work, prosperity follows. That is the NRM way,” he said, concluding with the local expression “Arakara noi, Kotido!” (Thank you, Kotido).
Following the Kotido engagement, the President and the First Lady proceeded to Moroto, where they held a large campaign rally attended by thousands of supporters. Museveni remarked on the region’s demographic growth, noting that “in 1980, Karamoja had only 190,000 people; today, it has grown to over 1.5 million.”
He also shared plans to further strengthen infrastructure and tourism in the region, announcing the proposed construction of an international airport in Kidepo Valley National Park. “We plan to build an international airport in Kidepo, comparable to Entebbe, through private investors who will also set up hotels. This will attract tourists and strengthen our economy,” he said.
Before concluding the day’s activities, the President and the First Lady visited the Yaobai International Cement and Clinker Factory in Moroto District to assess the progress of construction works. Once fully operational, the plant is expected to produce 12,000 tonnes of clinker daily, a development that will significantly boost Uganda’s construction industry and create jobs for the people of Karamoja.
Museveni’s campaign visit underscored the NRM’s continued focus on consolidating peace and promoting economic transformation in Uganda’s formerly marginalized regions. With presidential elections scheduled for January 2026, the President’s message centered on the link between stability and prosperity, calling on citizens to sustain the gains achieved under his government.
