Arua City — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged the people of West Nile to vote overwhelmingly for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in the 2026 general elections, saying the region has greatly benefited from the Movement’s leadership in peace, infrastructure, education, health, and the economy.
Speaking during a late-night engagement with journalists at Arua State Lodge on Friday, President Museveni stated that Uganda has undergone a remarkable transformation since 1986, moving from a collapsed state to a stable and steadily growing economy, with West Nile standing out as one of the key beneficiaries.
“There was no proper political participation ever since independence. Security had collapsed, and so had the economy. As we speak today, all that has been fixed,” President Museveni said.
From war to wealth
Reflecting on his campaign rallies across the sub-region, the President noted growing public appreciation for the NRM’s message, especially in areas like Maracha and Yumbe, where he addressed issues of the Parish Development Model (PDM), youth skilling, and grassroots mobilization.
“In Maracha, we reconnected with the population. They were angry about poor service delivery and nearly mobbed a deputy RDC, but we resolved it. I showed them that I’m on their side — and they were satisfied,” he said.
President Museveni attributed some of the gaps in service delivery and community engagement to weaknesses in the communication chain between leaders and citizens, which he linked to the colonial education system.
“Our leaders go to rallies but don’t know how to talk to the wanainchi. We train them, but they still speak above the people. Over time, they will learn,” he observed, adding that lasting transformation must come from empowering households to create their own wealth.
He also cautioned against the misuse of government programmes like the PDM, emphasizing that accountability measures are underway.
“We are auditing now. If people were not insisting on the one-million-shilling threshold per household, or if money was stolen, we shall find out,” he warned.
While acknowledging infrastructure as a visible sign of progress, the President said the next phase must focus on household wealth creation.
“You ask me for roads, hospitals, schools — and I have delivered. But now, I ask you to generate income at the homestead level,” he said. “When I return here after 2026, I want to see every family in West Nile earning a stable income.”
He urged the people to distinguish between development and personal wealth creation, citing examples from the cattle corridor and Acholi, where families have turned livestock and small enterprises into sustainable livelihoods.
“Cassava is good for West Nile. It is food, but also has cash value. We’re already using it to make starch and ethanol in Acholi. But I also want to see more coffee, cocoa, dairy, and fish farming here,” he said.
The President reminded Ugandans to value traditional crops alongside modern technologies.
“Don’t abandon the cassava,” he joked, drawing laughter from the journalists. “You say now we have computers — please, keep your muhogo! Let’s use computers to show us how to grow cassava more efficiently. But do not abandon it.”
He added that an industrial park for West Nile would be built around local agricultural products, turning cassava, coffee, and fish into processed goods for export.
Pan-Africanism for prosperity
President Museveni described Pan-Africanism as both a political and economic necessity for Uganda’s growth, particularly for border regions like West Nile.
“Pan-Africanism is cleverness. It’s about market access. The Banyankole don’t buy my milk because they have their own. But South Sudan, Congo, and other neighbors are buying from us. That’s why we need the East African Federation,” he said.
He explained that Uganda’s internal market is too small to absorb all production and that regional integration would create opportunities similar to those seen in large economies like the United States and China.
“Federation means you move goods from Kabale to Arua without taxes. That’s how business grows — and it’s especially important for border regions like this one,” he said.
Infrastructure priorities and Arua airport
When asked by journalists about demands to elevate Arua Airfield to international airport status, President Museveni said the NRM government believes in prioritization and phased development.
“You see, it’s very dangerous when people touch too many things in planning. You must prioritize among priorities,” he said.
“In 2005, I saw the danger of spreading resources thin. I compared roads, electricity, and water. Water is important, yes, but if you want factories, you first need roads and power.”
He added that while government plans to improve Arua Airfield, priority currently lies in completing key roads that support agriculture and trade.
“We shall do the airfield. Even private investors can come in, like they are doing with Kidepo Airport. But for now, the road from Nebbi to Goli to Zombo — that is the one we must finish first. Because the road means agriculture,” he explained.
Security and administrative units
Responding to questions about insecurity along the South Sudan border, the President said he had already directed a joint review of the situation and promised to follow up with relevant authorities during his next visit to Adjumani.
He also advised leaders and citizens not to be distracted by debates over administrative boundaries or the creation of new districts.
“Appointments or administrative units are not the issue,” he said. “What is crucial for West Nile is awakening by the population to know where wealth comes from. Once they pick that message, whether West Nile is a region or not, homes will be moving.”
Science, ICT, and education
Looking ahead to the 2026–2031 term, President Museveni said the NRM will intensify efforts in science, technology, and ICT while maintaining focus on productive sectors.
“We are training young people in electronics. But remember, people still eat food — cassava, maize, bananas. Computers are important, but they are facilitators. You need things to compute,” he said.
He advised young innovators to integrate digital tools with practical work.
“You cannot eat computers. Don’t abandon cassava because you’re excited by the internet. Let’s use ICT to speed up what we already do.”
Asked about the issue of salary disparities and the minimum wage for civil servants, the President said the government must focus its resources on the sectors most crucial for economic growth.
“The body is one, but not all parts kill when struck. You protect the vital parts,” he said, illustrating with an analogy from karate.
“It’s the same with salaries; we can’t pay everyone equally well now. We must start with those needed to keep the economy alive, like scientists, engineers, and instructors.”
When one journalist argued that all professionals are important for national growth, Museveni replied:
“Yes, but which human capital are we talking about? If we don’t have money to pay everyone, we start with those who build the road — because that road leads the rest to the schools and markets.”
On the Fishing Sector…
Addressing concerns from a journalist from Pakwach about the hardships facing fishing communities, President Museveni traced Uganda’s fisheries industry from its early days.
“I’m the biggest trouble-causer for the fish,” he joked. “When we came into government in 1986, there was not a single fish-processing factory in Uganda. It was me who asked the Italians to build the Masese fish plant in Jinja — and that’s how the fishing industry was revived.”
He said government will continue to regulate the sector to restore fish stocks and sustain the livelihoods of communities along Lake Albert and the Nile.
The 2026–2031 vision for West Nile
President Museveni outlined the NRM’s next-term priorities for the region, including:-
Universal Free Education – Ending illegal school fees and ensuring full school retention.
Household Wealth Creation – Supporting families to engage in productive, commercial agriculture.
Industrial Development – Establishing a value-driven industrial park based on local production.
Regional Integration – Promoting Pan-African trade and the East African Federation.
ICT and Science Innovation – Expanding skills and innovation to complement agriculture and manufacturing.
“West Nile has come from war to peace, from isolation to integration. The next step is wealth,” he said.
“That is why I ask you to vote NRM — not just for what we have done, but for what we are going to do next.”