President Directs Presidency Minister to Resolve Lakwena Victims’ Claims

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reaffirmed the National Resistance Movement (NRM)’s longstanding contributions to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation, highlighting peace, development, wealth creation, and job creation as key pillars achieved during the party’s 40 years in government.

Speaking during a campaign rally at Luuka District Headquarters, the President, accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, said the NRM manifesto for 2026–2031 documents these achievements and outlines the party’s plans for the next term.

“We are here with other leaders to present to you the NRM manifesto, and in that manifesto, we show that in the last 40 years, NRM has made seven contributions to Uganda. The first contribution is peace,” he said.

President Museveni cited past conflicts, including the Lakwena insurgency, noting that such wars had long been resolved under NRM leadership. He subsequently directed the Minister for the Presidency to work with the Attorney General to settle outstanding gratuity claims for the Lakwena war victims.

“Regarding the Lakwena victims, I direct the Minister for the Presidency to work with the Attorney General to solve this problem,” he said. This followed a briefing from Luuka District NRM chairperson, Hon. Stephen Kisa, that a verified list of beneficiaries had already been submitted to State House after a joint verification exercise with Brig. Gen. Jacob Asimwe, establishing a total of Shs5 billion required for the entire region.

The President highlighted development as the second major contribution of NRM, pointing to investments in both economic infrastructure, roads, electricity, telecommunication, water and railway, and social infrastructure, such as schools and health facilities.

He noted that Luuka District has 89 government primary schools and seven government secondary schools. However, he expressed concern over gaps in parish-level primary school distribution and the shortage of secondary schools in five sub-counties.

On health, the President reported that one sub-county has a Health Centre IV and eight have Health Centre IIIs, leaving three without facilities of HCIII level and above. He announced the upgrading of Busalamu HCII, Bulaga HCII and Kalyowa HCII to HCIII status.

On access to safe water, President Museveni said 187 out of 305 rural villages in Luuka now have access, representing 62 percent coverage. He also reiterated the government’s commitment to upgrading the Iganga–Luuka–Bulopa–Kamuli road.

The President emphasised that wealth creation remains central to NRM’s vision, pointing to the Parish Development Model (PDM) and the four-acre model as key strategies for household income enhancement.

He encouraged farmers with small landholdings to adopt high-value enterprises such as coffee, fruits, dairy, food crops, poultry, piggery, and aquaculture. Those with larger land portions were advised to consider extensive agriculture with crops such as sugarcane and maize.

On job creation, the President stressed that the private sector is now a major employer. “The government employs 480,000 people out of a population of 50 million, while factories employ 1.3 million, three times more than the government,” he said.

During the rally, President Museveni handed over NRM flags to parliamentary aspirants, LC V chairperson candidates, councillors, and other party flag bearers.

Maama Janet urged the people of Luuka to support President Museveni and NRM candidates in the upcoming elections, saying continued development depends on stable leadership. She also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to free education in government schools.

The NRM First National Vice Chairman, Al-Hajji Moses Kigongo, cautioned party leaders against indiscipline and urged them to engage communities respectfully.

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, called for greater economic empowerment of women and equitable access to government programmes such as the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW).

Hon. Stephen Kisa thanked the President for fulfilling major pledges, including the tarmacking of the Iganga–Luuka–Bulopa–Kamuli road and initiating the process to purchase Mayuge Sugar Factory for Busoga sugarcane farmers. He requested that the government convert the Bukoma project into a value-added facility to process sugarcane waste, including for electricity generation, to address persistent power outages in Luuka.

He also raised concerns regarding unresolved issues affecting sugarcane out-growers, including the implementation of the Presidential directive on the removal of the 5% waste management fee, and challenges with the Sugar Council.

Hon. Kisa further reminded the President of the pledge to construct a palace for the Chiefdom of Tabingwa, noting its role in unifying Luuka and Busoga. He also revealed that land had been donated for a regional sports stadium to promote talent development.

In response, President Museveni assured the community that their requests would be considered.

The rally was attended by NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) members, Members of Parliament, cultural and religious leaders, and thousands of supporters.