Hundreds of National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporters gathered at Zombo Upper Primary School playground to welcome NRM presidential candidate Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his second rally in the West Nile sub region.

The rally, also attended by Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa, NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong, and Northern Region Vice Chairperson Hon. Denis Hamson Obua, was marked by vibrant songs, cheers, and widespread appreciation for the peace and stability Zombo district has enjoyed over the years.

Home to over 350,000 residents, Zombo has transformed from a conflict-prone border area into a symbol of development and harmony, a transformation President Museveni attributed to the NRM’s ideology of unity and non-sectarianism.

“For the first time in a long time, there is peace in the whole of Uganda, largely due to the principles of the NRM,” he said.

“A key factor in this peace is our ideology of rejecting sectarianism based on religion or tribes. I pose a question, If you support sectarianism based on tribes or religion, how can you effectively build a national army? The peace we enjoy in Uganda is a result of our unity and the strength of a united national army,” the President  added.

The President further highlighted the importance of national cohesion, citing Uganda’s history of sectarian politics.

“When politics were divided along tribal or religious lines, the country could not be effectively governed, and no party could command a majority, as seen in the 1962 elections. By uniting all Ugandans, the NRM has consistently secured broad support and built enduring national institutions,” Museveni said.

The President also talked about the strategic significance of peace in border districts like Zombo, which lies close to Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“Being near volatile borders, you understand the value of peace. The NRM has maintained this stability through unity and a strong, united army,” he added.

First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, emphasized the importance of national unity and safeguarding peace, aligning with the President’s message.

“Look at the refugees in Uganda, people flee to us because they lack peace in their own countries. We must value the peace, unity, and freedom we enjoy, or we risk losing it,” she said.

During the rally, President Museveni also promised to improve services in Zombo by building more roads, upgrading Health Centre IIs to IIIs, and constructing schools in sub-counties that currently have none, showing the government’s commitment to fair and balanced development across the country

The Zombo rally highlighted the NRM’s focus on peace, unity, and development as cornerstones for Uganda’s continued progress, resonating strongly with supporters across the West Nile region.