Published on 13/10/2025
President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady Maama Janet Museveni on Monday rallied thousands of supporters in Madi-Okollo District, declaring that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has laid a strong and lasting foundation for Uganda’s peace, development, and prosperity.
Addressing a massive crowd at Ajai Sports Stadium, the First Lady thanked residents for turning out in large numbers, saying their show of support reflected the growing strength of the NRM ahead of the next general elections.
“This is good because it shows the country the numbers of NRM supporters,” Mrs. Museveni said.
“The NRM party has built the foundation on which Uganda stands today. Our children go to school, the sick have hospitals, roads are being built, and families are being helped to overcome poverty.”
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She called on voters to actively participate in the upcoming elections and ensure full support for President Museveni and all NRM candidates, saying the country must continue on the path of progress.
“We must take responsibility to make sure that we are doing it for our families, our districts, for Uganda, and for future generations,” she said. “Vote for the President, vote for all the NRM candidates, and may God bless you.”
Peace, Infrastructure, and Social Services
President Museveni, in his address, highlighted three key pillars of NRM’s achievements over the past four decades: peace, infrastructure development, and social service delivery.
“The first major contribution of the NRM is peace,” he said. “Before NRM, there was war. Many of you were refugees in Congo and South Sudan. Today, Uganda is peaceful, and others seek refuge here. That peace is because of our politics of unity — rejecting tribalism, religious divisions, and gender discrimination.”
He cited progress in economic infrastructure, such as electricity, roads, and communication, which have expanded significantly across West Nile and the rest of the country.
“I feel happy when I see electricity poles here and phones in your hands,” Museveni said. “We are continuing to work on key roads in the region, including those connecting Karuma to West Nile and others within Madi-Okollo.
Education and the Presidential Skilling Hubs
Museveni emphasized the government’s continued investment in education. Madi-Okollo, he said, currently has 69 government primary schools and six government secondary schools, but 14 parishes still lack a primary school, and six sub-counties have no secondary school.
“We are now constructing a new secondary school in one of the underserved sub-counties,” he said. “In the next term, with your support, we will ensure that every sub-county has a government secondary school and that all 14 parishes without primary schools are catered for.”
He expressed concern over school dropouts, which he attributed to illegal fees still being charged in some government schools despite the free education policy introduced in 1996.
“To fix this, we plan to recruit 50,000 more teachers to close the staffing gap, so that no school has an excuse to charge learners,” the President said.
To demonstrate what free, high-quality education for underprivileged children can look like, Museveni pointed to the Presidential Skilling Hubs — a personal initiative under State House that offers fully-sponsored vocational training.
“I was frustrated that some officials failed to implement my vision of free education, so I used my powers under State House to start the Presidential Skilling Hubs,” Museveni explained. “These hubs, like the one in Zombo, provide complete free training — we teach, feed, and house the students.”
The Skilling Hubs, he noted, are equipping youth with practical skills in trades such as tailoring, carpentry, mechanics, and agribusiness, helping them become self-reliant and productive citizens.
Health and Poverty Eradication
On health, Museveni reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving access to services, alongside investments in education and roads. However, he acknowledged that poverty remains a challenge for many Ugandans.
“The poverty you left in the morning is still waiting for you at home,” he said. “You don’t have sugar, proper clothes, or good houses. That is why we must keep working — and we can only do that if you support NRM.”
He urged the people of Madi-Okollo to vote NRM across all levels, warning against voter apathy and calling for total turnout.
“Let all our votes come out. Nobody should stay home on voting day,” he concluded. “We need to secure Uganda’s future and continue this journey of transformation.”
