President Museveni has mounted a charm offensive for the people of Karenga in Karamoja sub-region to vote NRM in the 2026 general election.
Addressing a rally at Jubilee 2000 Secondary School in Karenga District, Museveni reminded the population of the turbulent times of cattle rustling and Karachunas.
He said disarming them and stopping rustling was not an easy task since some people were profiting out of it.
“Many of our people had been misinformed . Some thought that carrying a gun and stealing cows was bravery, but I had to show them that true strength is building a future .Cattle rustling was no longer traditional one for marrying but commercial one. The market for stolen cows had come up. The stolen cows were giving low prices and taken to Kampala at Kalerwe, “ he said.
According to Museveni, when he started disarming Karamojong, there were naysayers who said it was good for the warriors to have guns to “ have a balance of terror.”
“Some people said we cannot disarm the Karamojong unless the Turkana, the Ethiopians, and the Somalis are disarmed. I told them it was none of my business to disarm the whole of Africa. They said we needed to allow the Karamojong remain with guns to maintain balance of terror. I said couldn’t be part of that criminality. I would disarm my own citizens and if others came, we would shoot them.”
He however said he was successful in the move that has seen the entire Karamoja region pacified.
Better days ahead
Museveni told the people of Karenga and the entire Karamoja sub-region that there are better days ahead.
“We have also got you an airport as big as Entebbe. There are rich people in the world who are looking for where to rest and see wild animals,” Museveni said in reference to Kidepo International Airport that is to be built by United Arab Emirates.
He said the airport will be see the number of tourists to Kidepo National Park increase and to this, he told the locals in Karenga to prepare to tap into benefits.
“You Karamojong should produce what those people will be buying as they come here like vegetables, fruits and milk. Those people will not come with their cows or gardens but will eat what they find here,” he said.
Museveni said the wild animals in the national park will bring in a lot of cash into the country through tourism , noting that this cash will be used to construct roads, schools and other infrastructure in the area.
He urged locals to prepare to benefit.
