President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has vowed to bring an end to cattle rustling in the Acholi and Karamoja sub-regions, assuring residents that government has both the technical capability and military strength to decisively deal with the remaining armed groups terrorizing communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Addressing a large rally in Agago District on Wednesday as he wrapped up his campaign tour of the Acholi sub-region, President Museveni described the current cattle raids as \u201ca very small problem\u201d compared to the insurgencies Uganda has previously overcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have the capacity to finish this once and for all,\u201d Museveni said. \u201cThe army has stopped war in Uganda before \u2014 and there will be no more war again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The President revealed that his recent discussions with military commanders highlighted gaps in how the army was responding to cattle rustling. He said that while troops were capable, they were not fully deploying the available tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey were walking on foot, tiring themselves following raiders instead of using the full capacity of the army,\u201d he said. \u201cNow we have the technology \u2014 UAVs \u2014 that can see them from the air, day or night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Museveni announced that the government would deploy more Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to enhance surveillance, track stolen cattle, and support rapid response units in hotspot districts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also warned groups contemplating armed rebellion that Uganda will not tolerate a return to war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you start war, you will go to Gehenna, not to heaven. Uganda now has cooch<\/em> \u2014 peace,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Turning to the issue of protected grazing zones, the President criticized the idea of \u201ccattle camps,\u201d saying it was impractical and counterproductive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPeople can live in protected camps because they are intelligent \u2014 they can find food. But cows are not intelligent; they chew too much grass. The solution is not to confine cows but to eliminate the troublemakers so that animals can graze freely,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Museveni dismissed claims that rustlers had become more sophisticated, saying modern technology and the army\u2019s control of key transport routes make it easier to track and intercept stolen cattle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen they steal cows, they load them on vehicles \u2014 but vehicles don\u2019t fly. We can track them on the roads. This is a very small problem,\u201d he said, adding that some of the stolen cattle were being taken to Kalerwe Market in Kampala, a route the government is now monitoring closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The President reiterated that peace and unity remain the cornerstone achievements of the NRM government over the last four decades, crediting the party\u2019s policy of non-sectarianism for building strong national institutions such as the army, police, and civil service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe don\u2019t care about your tribe or religion or whether you are a man or woman \u2014 what matters are your actions. That\u2019s what Jesus taught us: we shall know them by their fruits,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Museveni also pointed to continued investment in roads, electricity, water, and telecommunications, describing them as essential pillars of economic transformation. He recalled how the government extended electricity to West Nile, Kitgum, Adilang, and Kotido even after international donors withdrew funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen the Swedes stopped helping, we said we would do it ourselves. A cow that is not your bride price \u2014 if they give you a hoof, you say thank you,\u201d he joked, drawing laughter from the crowd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Encouraging citizens to be patient with government priorities, Museveni likened national development to walking \u2014 one step at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou cannot move both legs at once. You move one leg up, one down \u2014 that\u2019s how progress works,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He urged teachers and public servants to understand budget realities, saying government must prioritize infrastructure and energy first to create long-term economic opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn the bush, the one who ate was the one on duty. Not because he was the most important, but because we needed him most at that time,\u201d Museveni said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The President concluded by assuring residents that key road projects in Acholi would be completed as part of ongoing government infrastructure plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have peace, we have electricity, we have telephones \u2014 now we must build more roads. It\u2019s already in the programme,\u201d Museveni affirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His remarks were met with loud applause, with residents expressing renewed hope that the government\u2019s commitment to peace and development would finally bring an end to decades of insecurity and underdevelopment in northern Uganda.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has vowed to bring an end to cattle rustling in the Acholi and Karamoja sub-regions, assuring residents that government has both the technical capability and military strength to decisively deal with the remaining armed groups terrorizing communities. Addressing a large rally in Agago District on Wednesday as he wrapped up his […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8864,"featured_media":41052,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_paywall_metabox":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[8976,9075,31,109,9226,9227,119],"class_list":["post-41051","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-2026-general-elections","tag-2026-presidential-elections","tag-featured","tag-news","tag-protecting-the-gains","tag-silent-majority","tag-uganda-news"],"yoast_head":"\n\u2018No Protected Camps for Cows\u2019<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Peace, Development and Infrastructure<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Road Projects and Regional Development<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n