Adjumani West — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the National Chairman of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), has called on voters in Adjumani West Constituency to support the Party flag bearer, Leku James Pilli, in the upcoming by-election.
He made the call today at Paridi Stadium in Adjumani West, where he addressed a rally that marked the conclusion of Leku's campaigns ahead of the Thursday poll.
The by-election follows the death of the former area Member of Parliament, the late Gen. Moses Ali. In his speech, Museveni credited the late General, alongside other leaders from West Nile, for choosing to work with the NRM and contributing to the region's transformation.
He said Uganda had moved away from the politics of tribalism, religion, and conflict that characterised much of its political history and was now pursuing a politics centred on development, unity, and the economic interests of citizens.
"There are people who saw the correct way of thinking in West Nile. When people like Moses Ali and other cadres joined the NRM in 1986 and after, we started getting development," President Museveni said.
He cited major infrastructure developments in the region as evidence of progress under the NRM Government, including roads, electricity, schools, and health facilities.
"Instead of war, we now have a tarmac road all the way from Kampala to the Nimule border," he said, noting that Government was also undertaking projects, including the Koboko-Yumbe-Moyo, Nebbi-Arua, and Laropi-Moyo-Afodi roads, as well as upgrading the Nebbi-Goli, Arua-Koboko, and Obongi-Adjumani roads, among others.
The President said the government was also expanding electricity access in the region, with the grid now extending from Gulu through Adjumani to Moyo, while ongoing upgrades are intended to address challenges associated with ageing infrastructure.
On education, President Museveni noted that the region had registered significant progress compared to the past, when West Nile had limited access to secondary education. He said the government was continuing to expand schools, health centres, and other public services to support the growing population.
However, the President stressed that infrastructure alone cannot eliminate household poverty, urging citizens to actively participate in wealth-creating activities.
"Every individual has to participate in wealth creation in order to get rid of household poverty," he said, encouraging residents to take advantage of opportunities in agriculture, trade, and other productive enterprises. He observed that wealth creation should not be limited to areas with tarmac roads, saying people can create wealth even where infrastructure is still being developed.
President Museveni also emphasised the importance of expanding Uganda's market beyond its borders, particularly through trade with neighbouring countries such as Kenya and South Sudan.
Vote Leku
Museveni thanked the party's Electoral Commission for conducting the primary elections and commended the aspirants who participated.
He particularly thanked Hon. Ben Anyama for accepting his message on the importance of party unity and deciding to withdraw from the race and support Leku, who emerged as the NRM flag bearer.
The rally was attended by senior NRM officials, led by the NRM Vice Chairperson for the Northern Region, Hon. Denis Hamson Obua and the NRM Secretary General, Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong.
Obua said the NRM campaign had received strong support from the people of Adjumani, recalling that President Museveni secured 84.75 percent of the vote in the district in the previous presidential election.
Obua said the campaign had also enabled the party to listen to development concerns raised by communities during the village-based mobilisation drive. Among the priorities raised, he said, were the construction of the Laropi Bridge, upgrading Adjumani Town Council to a municipality, and improving the Senyangya-Adjumani road network.
Todwong thanked the people of Adjumani for their continued support and welcomed the President to the district, describing the occasion as an opportunity for the people to reaffirm their unity and commitment to the NRM.
Anyama said he had been an NRM member since 1986 and had chosen to support Leku in the interest of party cohesion. He said his decision followed the President's appeal for unity and urged other NRM supporters to rally behind the party flag bearer.
President Museveni also received more than 300 supporters of FDC who converted to the ruling Party and promised to support Leku.