President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s latest campaign swing through Maracha and Koboko in West Nile was markedly different from the typical rally format.
On Tuesday 14th October, 2025 , the NRM flag bearer Yoweri Museveni accompanied by the First Lady, Janet Museveni delivered a mix of stern warnings against corruption, ideological grounding, and strategic economic direction revealing a deeper political recalibration ahead of the 2026 elections.
In Maracha, where thousands of his residents attended the rally, Museveni issued one of his strongest warnings yet on the misuse of Parish Development Model (PDM) and State House Skilling Hub funds.
He told residents to directly report any irregularities directly to his office for follow-up.
This came after nearly half the crowd admitted to receiving less than the required Shs1 million, despite billions disbursed.
Museveni also publicly questioned the Deputy RDC over Shs50 million for skilling graduates, an unusual public rebuke of a government official during a campaign rally.
Museveni reframed the campaign narrative and said NRM is not defending corrupt local leaders, it is ready to expose them. This strategy weakens the opposition narrative that NRM “protects thieves” and refocuses accountability on local implementation failures rather than central government policy.
Museveni accused local leaders of acting as separate power centers, failing to communicate government programs to the people.
On education, Museveni emphasized the need to restore free learning in government schools by removing unnecessary financial burdens like feeding and boarding from the education system.
He proposed a return to the original structure of providing one primary school per parish and one secondary school per sub-county, where learners attend school during the day and return home.
“In the next government, I want to reach an agreement with head teachers, PTAs, and foundation bodies to launch free education in government schools across Uganda,” he said.
He acknowledged that 34 out of 91 parishes in Maracha still lack government primary schools and promised to address the gap.
While campaigning in Koboko District at Ombachi Playground, Museveni emphasized that Uganda’s current peace and stability are the result of the National Resistance Movement’s deliberate efforts to build strong and inclusive institutions.
“We have built strong institutions—starting with the army, the police, the prisons, the judiciary, the civil service, and academia. These are national institutions, built on merit and not favoritism,” he said.
He explained that recruitment into security forces is based on district quotas to ensure national representation and unity. He added that peace in Uganda was achieved not only through military strength but also through reconciliation.
“When assessing who truly stands for peace, remember that the NRM has unmatched credentials,” he said.
Museveni traced the region’s history, stating that true stability had not existed for more than 500 years, dating back to the fall of the Bachwezi dynasty around 1400 AD. He recounted the period of colonial conflict, post-independence instability, Amin’s dictatorship, and subsequent civil wars up to 1986.
“It’s not a coincidence that Uganda is peaceful now. It’s because of the deliberate and correct policies of the NRM,” he noted.
Museveni cautioned citizens that public infrastructure alone does not guarantee personal prosperity.
“You don’t sleep on the tarmac road. You sleep in your houses. If poverty is still in your house, it will be waiting for you when you return,” he said.
He urged households to embrace commercial agriculture and modern production to generate income.
The President also stressed unity and patriotism, reminding Ugandans that despite tribal identities, they all benefit from a national market and shared stability.
“Whether Lugbara, Alur, or Madi—you are first Ugandans,” he said.
Museveni’s campaign in West Nile continues as part of his wider message of protecting the gains made under the NRM government and deepening socio-economic transformation across the region.
