President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential flag bearer, kicked off his 2026 campaign trail in the West Nile sub-region on Tuesday, rallying supporters around the themes of peace, unity, and household wealth creation.
Addressing a massive crowd at Pakwach Town Council grounds, President Museveni praised the people of West Nile for embracing stability after decades of conflict, saying the NRM had transformed the region from a war-torn zone into one of peace and opportunity.
“When the NRM came to power, many of you were in exile in Congo and South Sudan. But we reconciled, and you returned home. You’re the best witnesses to the peace and unity the NRM brought,” he told cheering supporters.
The President contrasted Uganda’s stability with the turmoil in neighbouring countries like South Sudan and the DRC, saying Uganda remains a refuge of peace in the region.
Unity Over Division
Reflecting on his political journey, Museveni recalled how Uganda’s early politics in the 1960s were divided along tribal and religious lines, noting that the NRM emerged as a unifying movement grounded in patriotism and Pan-Africanism.
“The NRM has stood for unity and peace for over six decades. Since we formed FRONASA in 1971, our struggle has always been about doing what’s right and rejecting what’s wrong,” he said.
NRM Secretary General Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong commended the region for its continued loyalty to the Movement, noting that Pakwach gave Museveni 61% of the vote in 2021, a figure he expects to rise in 2026.
“Let us unite behind NRM flag bearers so we consolidate our party’s strength,” Todwong urged.
Development and Service Delivery
President Museveni outlined key achievements of the NRM government in infrastructure, education, and health, citing major investments in the Karuma–Pakwach–Nebbi–Arua–Koboko road, expanded electricity coverage, and improved telecommunications as drivers of regional growth.
He announced plans to ensure that every parish has a government primary school and every sub-county a secondary school, highlighting that Pakwach now has 64 government primary schools and eight secondary schools.
“When I was in Senior One at Ntare School in 1961, there wasn’t a single secondary school in West Nile. Today, every district has one—that’s progress,” Museveni noted.
On health, he acknowledged that only one of Pakwach’s ten sub-counties has a Health Centre IV and pledged to consider establishing a district hospital under the government’s future plans.
Responsible Growth and Wealth Creation
The President cautioned citizens to make realistic development demands, urging them to prioritize national progress over short-term political gains. He also discussed Uganda’s oil sector, describing it as a new engine for transformation.
“The British were here for 60 years and failed to find oil. We discovered it, and next year we start pumping. That money won’t buy perfumes or whisky—it will build roads, hospitals, and schools,” he said to applause.
He emphasized household wealth creation as the cornerstone of Uganda’s next growth phase, urging citizens to take advantage of the Parish Development Model (PDM) to join the money economy.
“You can’t sleep on the road or in a school building—at the end of the day, you return home to the poverty you left. You must chase it away by working,” Museveni said, highlighting success stories of locals who’ve grown small businesses through PDM.
The President also announced plans for new support funds targeting religious leaders, unemployed graduates, and fishermen, and proposed a Fisheries Development Fund to modernize the sector and reduce tensions between communities and enforcement units.
Resolving Local Issues
Addressing the Jonam–Acholi land dispute, Museveni said he would appoint a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the issue and recommend long-term solutions.
“We need to know the history and legal facts so we can settle it fairly,” he said.
Local leaders, including Pakwach LC5 Chairperson Robert Omito, thanked the President for the district’s creation and for the UGX 14 billion disbursed under the PDM to 48 SACCOs.
NRM Electoral Commission Deputy Chairman Mr. Jacan Omach, a native of the area, pledged that the West Nile region would deliver over 85% of the vote to the President in 2026.
The rally attracted ministers, MPs, cultural and religious leaders, and NRM flag bearers for the 2026 elections. Museveni handed over party flags and welcomed new members crossing over from other political parties, urging them to uphold discipline and work for the party’s continued success.
