On Saturday, 25th October 2025, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni revealed massive government achievements and new plans to transform Karenga and Kaabong districts in Karamoja sub-region. He delivered powerful message of transformation anchored on education, skilling, and health sectors while touring Karenga and Kaabong districts.
During his campaign swing through in the two districts, the NRM flag bearer struck an optimistic tone, portraying Karamoja as a region on the rise, shedding its past of cattle rustling and embracing human capital development.
Museveni declared that the region’s future will depend on the knowledge, skills and health of its people pledging to consolidate government interventions that have already begun changing lives across Karamoja.
In Kaabong District, government efforts to expand access to education are beginning to bear fruit. With 32 government primary schools and plans to construct additional secondary schools under the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers and Secondary Education Expansion programs, Museveni noted that the NRM’s investment in education has transformed the literacy landscape of Karamoja.
However, he acknowledged gaps in infrastructure with 53 parishes in Kaabong and 21 in Karenga still lacking a government primary school and promised to close that gap.
In Karenga, where the government runs 21 primary and one secondary school, Museveni highlighted the construction of a Seed Secondary School as a major milestone toward ensuring every sub-county has a functional institution offering Universal Secondary Education and vocational training.
“This is the new weapon for Karamoja education and skills,” Museveni said, drawing cheers from a crowd that included teachers, youth leaders, and parents.
Museveni praised the success of the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga programs in skilling and financing local entrepreneurs, especially the youth and women.
Kaabong alone has received over Shs 26 billion in PDM funds, with nearly 26,000 households already benefiting. In Karenga, over Shs 8.8 billion has been disbursed to more than 8,800 households.
“Karamoja’s transformation will not come from handouts but from skills, enterprise, and production. That’s why we are empowering families to enter the money economy,” Museveni said.
With over 87 Emyooga SACCOs across the two districts supporting more than 26,000 members the President said the movement from subsistence to commercial productivity is already visible, thanks to financial inclusion and vocational skilling initiatives.
On health, Museveni reaffirmed government’s commitment to upgrading medical infrastructure to serve the growing population.
In Kaabong, where only one hospital and seven HCIIIs serve 19 sub-counties, the government plans to upgrade 11 lower-level health centers to HCIII status including Usake, Lolelia, Kakamar, and Lodiko to bring quality healthcare closer to the people.
Similarly, in Karenga, upgrades are ongoing for Lokori HCII to HCIII, while new HCIIIs are under construction in Karenga, Kakwanga, Kapedo, and Kidepo Town Council.
Museveni said the upgrades will end long treks for mothers and patients seeking treatment noted that a healthy population is critical to building a skilled and productive society,” Museveni said.
