President Yoweri Musveni has expressed his gratitude for the significant transformation currently taking place in the Karamoja Sub-Region that he has attributed to the decreasing number of illegal guns in the area and government’s programmes such as immunization.
“I am happy to see you here today. When I look at you, I really see that the NRM programmes have worked for you. When I look at the crowd, I see a lot of children. This population has increased because of immunization. In the past I would find a small group of people now I see huge crowds”, the beaming President said.
Mr. Museveni, who is on a 4-day tour of Karamoja sub region to sensitize and mobilize the people of the area on the government’s programme of Prosperity for All (PFA) was yesterday addressing a huge gathering at Karenga Boys’ Primary School in Karenga Sub-County of Dodoth County in Kaabong district.
The President is accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Janet Museveni, who is also the Minister of State for Karamoja Affairs. Karamoja Sub-Region comprises of the districts of Kaabong, Abim, Kotido, Moroto, Nakapiripirit and Amudat.
The President reiterated his call to the people of Karamoja to abandon illegal guns in order to allow government implement its development programmes in their area.
“These prorammes would have worked better if there was peace in the area but we wasted time with insecurity”, he observed.
He also noted that although the disarmament exercise was successful, two challenges still remain but assured the people that they are being tackled. He cited intertribal cattle raids which largely fuel revenge cases and laxity of the army as the challenges.
President Museveni, therefore, appealed to the people of Karamoja Sub-Region to surrender all illegal guns to allow development take place. He noted that the guns had even given some public officials the opportunity to steal money meant for the people of the region.
“Insecurity doesn’t allow programmes to be implemented or monitored. It only allows thieves to steal money meant for your development. All your problems rotate a round insecurity. Dams have now become dining tables”, he told the attentive crowd.
President Museveni further noted that Karamoja is very rich place but needed only two aspects to be instilled in the minds of the people namely peace and attitude to development.
On PFA programme, the President told the people of Karenga the benefits of NAADS and took them through the elements of the drive that include, among others, the selection of 6 seed families per parish as role models for the rest of the parishioners to learn and copy; the formation of SACCOS at all Sub-Counties and borrowing from those SACCOS at low interest rates to enable them implement what they have learnt from the model farmers.
President Museveni assured them that more programmes will be introduced and each year, NAADS will increase the number of model farmers per parish. He strongly recommended the keeping of live stock in the region because of the availability of appropriate pastures but cautioned them against grass burning.
“In Rwakitura, I buy seeds for these grasses and plant them as crop, but here it grows wild and it is very good pasture for cattle,” he said.
The President also touched on other issues like education, and electrification, among others that also require security to flourish. He noted that people have been using lack of electricity as an excuse for not developing. He assured the people of the area that electricity would soon be available in the area.
Mr. Museveni pledged to tarmac the two major roads that cut across Karamoja Sub-Region, open up secondary schools in every Sub-County and a nursing school at Kaabong.
Mrs. Janet Museveni, who is State Minister for Karamoja Affairs, said that on assuming her portfolio, she took up 4 programmes very seriously for the area which include food production, provision of water, coordinating security with the UPDF and now the NAADS programme.
She disclosed that last year’s harvest was poor because of planting late but was very optimistic that this year the people of the region will realize a bumper harvest because of the favorable weather.
Mrs. Museveni disclosed that her next task is to embark on the health, education and roads sector in the region.
Kaabong district LC5 Chairperson, Rev. Fr. Simon Lokodo, who is also State Minister for Industry and Technology, thanked President Museveni and the NRM Government for the successful disarmament exercise in Karamoja. He said the people of the Sub-Region appreciate the care extended to them by the President that is clearly manifested through the appointment of his wife, Mrs. Janet Museveni, as Minister to oversee development in Karamoja.
“All the Dodoth are for disarmament. I appeal to you to accomplish the exercise to allow total peace in the region for development activities to take place”, he said.
Fr. Lokodo also thanked Mrs. Janet Museveni for her selfless efforts in transforming the people of the region.
Uganda Media Centre
