As the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries draw to a close in Katakwi District, Ngariam County aspirant Daniel Mulalu has announced the renewal of his contract to install solar lighting systems across the county’s trading hubs in a bid to boost economic activity and enhance security.
Mulalu made the announcement on Monday, July 7, 2025, while addressing hundreds of enthusiastic supporters at Omodod cattle market in Akoboi Sub County.
The market, usually bustling with buyers and sellers, came to an unusual halt as traders abandoned their stalls to listen to Mulalu’s development-focused address.
“Our plan is very clear: we want to make sure every major trading centre in Ngariam has reliable lighting,” Mulalu told the crowd.
“This is not just about light, it is about safety, business growth, and giving our people confidence to trade even after sunset.”
He disclosed that the renewed contract would target business hubs that still lack solar lighting infrastructure.
The program, Mulalu explained, will cover several rural and peri-urban markets that have lagged behind in access to electricity, ensuring traders can operate safely into the evening and residents can enjoy more secure public spaces.
“We know where these dark spots are, Alukucok, Aterai, Akoboi itself, and we’re coming to fix that,” Mulalu said. “Lighting is development. Lighting is security.”
This latest promise forms part of Mulalu’s broader development agenda as he campaigns for the NRM flag in Ngariam County.
It also highlights his strategy of focusing on tangible infrastructure projects to win over a population eager for improved service delivery after years of challenges stemming from underdevelopment and the region’s history of insecurity.
During his stop at the Omodod cattle market, a major economic hub for livestock traders from Akoboi and neighbouring sub-counties, Mulalu emphasized that solar lighting would not only reduce crime but also expand the local economy by extending trading hours.
Many small-scale traders, especially women and youth, currently close their stalls before dusk out of fear of theft and insecurity.
In his speech, delivered partly in Ateso, Mulalu struck a tone of reconciliation and unity, acknowledging the painful legacy of insecurity that has affected Katakwi District over the years, including violent cattle rustling and insurgencies that displaced thousands.
“My people, this is not about politics alone. It is about our lives, our businesses, and our security. The solar lighting project will help us rebuild confidence in our communities.”
Mulalu called on residents to support leaders with clear plans rather than those who, he warned, rely on handouts or “commercialized politics” to secure votes without delivering meaningful services.
His message appeared to resonate with a sizeable group of youth in Akoboi who publicly pledged to reject candidates they accuse of monetizing politics at the expense of service delivery.
“We are tired of being bribed for our votes and then being forgotten. We want real change and leaders who will deliver development.”
The youth argued that commercialized politics had stalled development projects in the past and vowed to support leaders with a track record of accountability and practical service provision.
Mulalu’s solar project pledge comes as campaigning in Ngariam intensifies, with candidates making last-minute appeals to voters in a race widely seen as competitive.
While the NRM primaries are often characterized by fierce competition, observers note that development promises such as Mulalu’s solar initiative have the potential to shift voter loyalties.
Supporters at the Akoboi rally praised the solar plan as a “timely intervention” that could transform local markets into safer, busier commercial centres.
Traders said they have long struggled with insecurity at night, limiting business hours and discouraging buyers from neighbouring sub-counties from staying late.
Mulalu, now on his fourth day of village-to-village campaigning, urged unity among Ngariam residents regardless of clan or party divisions.
He promised to work with local leaders, technical officers, and development partners to roll out the solar lighting plan as soon as possible if given the mandate.
“We have seen too many promises broken,” one elder at the rally said. “If he can truly bring light to our markets, it will be one of the biggest gifts for our traders and our young people.”
About Author
