President Museveni has told the people of Nwoya in Acholi sub-region that what the ruling NRM party presents to them are tangible results, not mere empty promises.
Speaking during a campaign rally at Anaka Primary School in Nwoya district, Museveni said Uganda had become ungovernable, with wars , noting that for the first time in 500 years, the country is at total peace, courtesy of NRM.
“Before THE British came we had had different regimes controlling this area . Between 900AD and 1400 AD we had the dynasty of Bchwezi controlling much of Uganda, part of DRC and Rwanda but collapsed around 1400 AD and successor kingdoms were badly managed. Our ancestors were in war all the time. The British came and captured them like grasshoppers but wars continued and after independence they continued. It wasn’t until 2007 when we defeated Kony and ADF, that Uganda became peaceful. We defeated these wars because of our ideology,” Museveni said.
He said because of proper ideology, NRM was able to build a national army and other institutions that have helped protect the country.
Museveni reminisced the Kony war in Northern Uganda and how the people of Nwoya suffered.
“I came and landed here in Anaka and found people in IDP camps here. I asked why they couldn’t cross the Nile to go to the other side. They were fearing to go there. Even the people the other side were fearing saying Museveni is bringing Kony here. I explained that Kony was one person and majority of the people had no problem. I am glad that after some time, I found many people in Bweyale who had been encouraged to cross from here . This is how NRM has been able to deal with peace in Uganda.”
He said that all these show what NRM has done which is tangible and not mere empty promises as many do.
Museveni said after ushering in peace, NRM focused on developing the area, mentioning roads, electricity, schools, health facilities and many others which have been constructed .
“You can see electricity, tarmac roads, the railway has been repaired up to Gulu and will go to Packwach. You all have telephones in your pockets. That is development on the infrastructural side. On the social side, you have schools, health centres. There are many government primary and secondary schools plus private ones. The population of Nwoya now is 220,000 but in 1991 it was way less than this. What was happening to children before NRM? The children were dying. The NRM has said no more deaths of children. The children will no longer die.”
Museveni however reminded the population that despite the peace and development achieved, wealth creation is key.
He said it is dangerous for people to spend all their time speaking about development and not focusing on creating wealth for themselves.
“At night you don’t sleep on the road. Although it is very good, you sleep in your home. When you are poor and you leave home to walk on a tarmac road, when you return home, poverty will welcome you back. Don’t be diverted by development like good roads, electricity. All those are ours but wealth is yours as an individual. I don’t want to be a leader who misleads people,” he urged.
He said in some cases,one can become wealthy even in absence of infrastructure like tarmacked roads.
Museveni gave an example of a cattle keeper in Snkole who understood his message of wealth creation and is now well off.
“That man is not educated but after listening to our message of wealth creation, he changed from poverty to rich. He has built a good house, look after his children yet not near a tarmac road. Where he lives is about 70 miles away from the tarmac road. Jesus says seek Him first. Here we say, seek first homestead income and the rest will be added onto you.”
He urged locals to tap into Parish Development Model funds and others like Emyooga to create wealth for themselves.
“The appeal of NRM is that for a long time we have been sending you money for wealth creation.Please use these opportunities to get out of poverty.”
Museveni promised to construct a technical institute in Nwoya but also upgrade Koch Goma Health Centre III into a health centre IV.
The NRM presidential candidate also said government will install and electric fence around Murchison Falls National Park to deter elephants from invading communities as has been happening in the past.
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