Museveni Pledges Faster Compensation, Wildlife Protection, and Wealth Creation in Nwoya District

By Jumah Kakomo/ Kabuye Ronald

National Resistance Movement (NRM) Presidential candidate General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has pledged to expedite compensation for residents displaced by the Karuma hydropower dam project and committed to resolving long-standing human-wildlife conflicts in Nwoya District.

Speaking at a campaign rally held at Anaka Primary School playground, Museveni stated that the government has already paid out 11 billion shillings out of the 48 billion shillings earmarked for project-affected persons. He emphasized that the remaining 37 billion shillings is a priority for the next term of the NRM government.

Museveni also addressed increasing concerns about human-wildlife conflict, following reports from NRM District Chairperson Mary Adokorach, who cited two recent deaths caused by elephant attacks from nearby Murchison Falls National Park. In response, the NRM flagbearer assured residents of the government’s commitment to complete the construction of an electric fence around the park to prevent further tragedies.

On the issue of cattle compensation for victims of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency, Museveni revealed that the government has so far spent 159 billion shillings in the first compensation phase. He instructed the Prime Minister to fast-track negotiations for the proposed uniform compensation plan that would benefit victims across the Acholi, Lango, and Teso sub-regions.

Turning to socioeconomic empowerment, Museveni cautioned wealthy Ugandans against misappropriating funds from government poverty alleviation programs like Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, and the Youth Livelihood Program. He stressed that such funds are intended to uplift the poorest citizens, urging the rich to seek funding from the Uganda Development Bank instead.

Museveni also promised to expand access to empowerment programs to reach more vulnerable groups and called on locals to embrace wealth creation at household level, rather than waiting for large-scale government projects.

In his message to voters, Museveni reminded the people of Nwoya of the NRM’s legacy in the region — particularly the restoration of peace, the closure of Internally Displaced People’s camps, and the development that followed. He urged them to reject “misleaders ignorant of leadership matters” and to continue supporting the NRM for sustained growth.

He also took aim at critics of universal free education, accusing them of perpetuating ignorance. NRM Vice Chairperson for Northern Uganda, Dennis Hamson Obua, echoed the message, praising the district’s steady development under the NRM and encouraging the electorate to re-elect Museveni.

Chairperson Adokorach further highlighted the success of Nwoya residents in utilizing 13 billion shillings disbursed to 13,400 PDM beneficiaries, alongside support from other schemes like the Youth Livelihood Fund and Women Empowerment initiatives.