A heavy downpour on Thursday afternoon marked President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s arrival in Kapelebyong District, as he began his six-day campaign trail across the Teso Sub-region.
The rains, which many residents described as a blessing, did little to deter hundreds of enthusiastic supporters who braved the weather to welcome the President and listen to his address.
Speaking to the cheering crowd at St. Francis Acumet grounds, President Museveni reaffirmed his government’s commitment to improving livelihoods in Teso through deliberate agricultural and economic programs.
In his latest pledge, Museveni announced a new initiative under which each household in the Teso sub-region will receive five cows to help boost income and rebuild the region’s livestock heritage.
“We have peace now. The cows that were taken will be replaced. We are going to distribute five cows per household so that every family can start earning from milk, meat, and breeding. The NRM wants every home to have a sustainable source of income,” Museveni told the cheering residents.
The President took time to remind the people of Kapelebyong and the wider Teso sub-region of the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) record in restoring peace and stability, particularly by ending cattle rustling and armed insurgencies that had plagued the area for decades.
“For the last 40 years, we have worked to bring peace to Uganda. From 2007, we managed to completely disarm the Karamojong’s who had caused suffering to the people of Teso and other neighboring regions. Today, you can move freely with your property without fear,” Museveni said.
He praised the cooperation of the local communities and security agencies that supported government efforts to eliminate cattle rustling and restore normalcy, adding that peace remains the cornerstone of development.
The also President listed several major infrastructural achievements under the NRM government, noting that Teso and neighboring regions have benefited from expanded road networks, electricity, telecommunication, and water services.
He cited key roads including Soroti–Moroto, Soroti–Katine–Dokolo–Lira, and Lira–Kamdini, describing them as critical routes that have opened up trade, agriculture, and social services in Eastern and Northern Uganda.
“The NRM government has done a lot on road infrastructure. You have roads like Soroti–Moroto, Soroti–Katine–Dokolo–Lira, and Kamdini. These are the lifelines of our economy. We are also planning to work on the road from Soroti–Amuria to Acinapi,” he said.
However, Museveni expressed concern about corruption and inefficiency in some local governments, accusing them of mismanaging funds meant for road maintenance.
“The government gives local governments about 1.3 billion shillings every financial year to maintain marrum roads, but some of them are not maintained at all. I have carried out some samples and found that the money is diverted to other things. Are they creating roads or swimming pools?” Museveni asked rhetorically, drawing laughter from the crowd.
He directed the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Local Government to urgently investigate and act on the delays and misuse of road maintenance funds in various districts.
The President also spoke about the allocation of funds within the Ministry of Defence, explaining that a large portion of the defence budget currently goes to acquiring weapons and providing for soldiers as Uganda continues to secure its borders and maintain peace in the region.
“The money we get now is mainly used for procuring weapons and feeding our soldiers. We must first secure the country and stabilize the region. After that, we shall uplift the welfare of our forces,” he said.
He emphasized that national security remains a top priority for the NRM government and a prerequisite for economic transformation.
Museveni’s pledge to distribute five cows per household follows earlier government interventions such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga, aimed at empowering communities to engage in commercial production.
He noted that Teso, once renowned for its vibrant livestock economy, had suffered immense losses during the cattle rustling era.
The new cattle distribution program, he said, will restore the traditional wealth of the people and stimulate milk production, meat supply, and trade in animal products.
“Teso people love cattle. It is part of your identity and culture. We are bringing back that pride. Every family will be able to earn from the cows. Those who manage well can multiply and sell milk or bulls for income. That is how you fight poverty practically,” he said.
Museveni also encouraged youth and women to form cooperatives to manage shared resources and market their products collectively, adding that government programs will continue to support such initiatives through training and agricultural financing.
The residents of Kapelebyong hailed the President for keeping his promise to visit their district, which was among the newly created ones in Teso region.
Francis Akorikin the NRM Flag bearer candidate for Kapelebyong County thanked him for prioritizing peace, infrastructure, and livelihoods, pledging to mobilize support for his re-election in 2026.
Museveni’s visit to Kapelebyong marks the first stop in his six-day campaign tour of the Teso Sub-region, where he is expected to hold rallies across the sub-region.
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