Hundreds of sons and daughters of the West Nile region gathered in Yumbe Town Council to celebrate 23 years of peace and stability on Saturday, 12th April,2025.
The event was presided over by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, and attended by senior political, religious, and cultural leaders, security officers, business figures, and foreign delegates from neighboring South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Held under the theme “23 Years of Peace and Progress: Uniting West Nile for Socio-Economic Transformation,” the celebration emphasized peace, unity, and economic empowerment.
Two special guests, Gen (Rtd) Kale Kayihura, former Inspector General of Police, and Zoe Bakoko Bakoru, former Minister and a key figure in the 2002 Peace Accord graced the occasion.
The celebration also marked Bakoko’s first return to West Nile after years in self-exile.
“We are not just celebrating the silence of guns in our region, but the enduring stability ushered in by the NRM government,” Bakoko said.
She urged residents to seize the opportunity of peace to pursue wealth creation and development.
Bakoko also acknowledged the crucial roles played by President Museveni, Gen. Salim Saleh, and Gen. Kayihura in achieving the peace accord with the Uganda National Rescue Front II (UNRF II).
In his address to thousands, Gen. Kayihura emphasized that dialogue is the cornerstone of peacebuilding, urging that war should always be a last resort. He praised former UNRF II leaders for their commitment to peace.
President Museveni, reflecting on history, said the National Resistance Army (NRA), upon taking power in 1986, prioritized dialogue and reconciliation across Uganda.
“The NRA didn’t target the people of West Nile. When we took over, we called them to return home and showed them they had nothing to fear,” he said.
“We never persecuted anyone on account of divergent views, not even UPC. Uganda is now united and peaceful. Our focus should now be on building institutions and creating wealth.”
President Museveni said government beginning the new financial year 2025/2026 will allocate pay ex -combatants in West Nile sub region their pending claims. He adds government will do the same in the subsequent financial year 2026/2027.
Gen. Moses Ali, 2nd Deputy Prime Minister and former UNRF commander, commended the government for maintaining peace and reaffirmed the region’s continued commitment to the accord and community unity.
Huda Abason Oleru, Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs, also expressed gratitude to the government for its unwavering support to veterans.
The local leadership appealed to government to now focus on the social transformation of the region and pledged to continue supporting NRM government.
