President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the Presidential flag bearer of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), has commended the people of Teso for their resilience and vital contribution to peace and development in Uganda.
Speaking during a campaign rally in Amuria District, President Museveni, accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, praised the people of Teso for their bravery during the insurgency years and their partnership with government in restoring peace.
“You people of Amuria and Teso are witnesses to what happened here. There is a place called Apopong where the UPDF destroyed Kony’s army. That was the turning point of the war against Kony,” Museveni said. “In Anyara, Kalaki, we killed one of the notorious rebels called Tabuley. I want to thank the Arrow Boys who joined me in bringing peace here.”
The Arrow Boys were a local self-defense militia formed in the early 2000s to fight the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in the Teso region.
Comprising ex-soldiers and local residents armed with bows and arrows, they helped drive the rebels out and rescued many abducted children.
President Museveni said peace has been the foundation for the region’s progress. “Without peace, no development can take place. That’s why we always emphasize peace first. It’s the reason you can now talk of roads, schools, hospitals, and electricity,” he noted.
He highlighted major infrastructure gains, including the tarmacked roads from Soroti to Katine, Otuboi, Lira, Katakwi, Usuku, and Karamoja, which have eased transport and boosted trade. “We have already provided money to take the road from Katine to Ochero. But there are two more big gaps which we are going to work on—Soroti–Amuria–Achanipi all the way to Otuke, and Kumi–Ngora–Serere up to Bugondo,” he revealed.
On electricity and water, Museveni said most areas in Amuria are now connected to the national grid, while 401 out of 528 villages have boreholes. “Amuria Town Council has a piped water system serving over 7,200 residents,” he said.
Under the NRM education policy, the district has 68 government primary schools and eight secondary schools offering Universal Primary and Secondary Education. “Our goal is to ensure every parish has a primary school and every sub-county has a secondary school,” the President said.
He added that government is upgrading several health facilities. “Plans are underway to upgrade Olwa, Abia, and Amolo HCIIs to HCIIIs, and to construct new facilities in Ogongora, Asamuk, Wera, and Orungo,” Museveni said, adding that ICT is being used to track medicines and reduce absenteeism among health workers.
On wealth creation, he urged households still outside the money economy to embrace production. “Twelve years ago, only 32% of Ugandans were engaged in wealth creation. I now appeal to the remaining 33% to join the journey of modern wealth creation,” he said, citing farmers like Joseph Ijala of Serere as examples.
Concluding, Museveni reaffirmed his commitment to protecting Uganda’s progress. “Let us protect the gains we have made and aim for a qualitative leap into a high middle-income country,” he said.
Maama Janet praised the people of Teso for their loyalty. “We are proud of you, you look beautiful in yellow. On voting day, ensure every family member and neighbor turns up to vote for the NRM,” she said.
Amuria NRM chairperson Simon Peter Okello thanked the President for restoring peace and implementing key projects. The rally was attended by NRM Central Executive Committee members, MPs, religious and cultural leaders, and thousands of supporters.
