Published on 21/11/2025
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed the Minister for the Presidency to work jointly with the Attorney General to urgently resolve the long-standing issue of gratuity and compensation for victims of the Lakwena insurgency, assuring the people of Busoga that government remains committed to addressing historical injustices.
The directive followed a briefing from Luuka District NRM Chairperson Hon. Stephen Kisa, who informed the President that a clean and verified list of Lakwena war victims had already been prepared in a joint exercise with Brig. Gen. Jacob Asimwe, showing that Shs 5 billion is required to compensate all verified victims in the region.
The President issued the directive while addressing a mammoth NRM rally at the Luuka District headquarters, where he was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni. Senior NRM leaders, Members of Parliament, cultural and religious leaders, and thousands of supporters were also in attendance.
Museveni reiterated that peace remains the NRM’s greatest contribution in its 40 years of leadership, noting that Uganda once endured several rebellions—including the Lakwena insurgency—before the NRM decisively restored stability. He said settling the compensation matter is part of the government’s broader commitment to justice, healing, and national unity.
The President also highlighted NRM’s achievements in education and infrastructure. He pointed out that Luuka District now has 89 government primary schools, although 26 parishes still lack a primary school, contrary to the policy of one primary school per parish. He added that the district has seven government secondary schools out of twelve sub-counties, and that government is constructing two new seed schools to reduce the number of sub-counties without a secondary school.
On health services, Museveni noted that Luuka has one HCIV and eight HCIIIs, and announced government plans to upgrade Busalamu HCII, Bulaga HCII, and Kalyowa HCII to HCIII level to further improve health service delivery. Regarding water access, he said 187 out of 305 villages in Luuka now have a safe water source, representing 62% coverage.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to infrastructure development, including the ongoing upgrades on the Iganga–Luuka–Bulopa–Kamuli road, a 56-kilometre stretch whose tarmacking has cost government approximately Shs 368 billion.
Museveni also reminded residents of the government’s wealth-creation initiatives such as the four-acre model, the Parish Development Model, and other poverty-reduction programmes that have enabled households across the country to increase their income.
Hon. Kisa thanked the President for initiating the process of purchasing Mayuge Sugar Factory for Busoga’s sugarcane farmers and requested that the Luuka sugar project be converted into a value-addition plant, noting that Luuka suffers chronic power outages of 2–3 days per week, and could benefit from electricity generated from bagasse. He further requested that fertilizer funds for sugarcane out-growers be deposited directly into their SACCO accounts and raised concerns over millers who have not stopped charging the 5% waste management fee despite a presidential directive issued on August 6, 2025.
He also appealed to the President to fulfil the pledge of constructing a palace for the Chiefdom of Tabingwa, whose grounds currently host Luuka District Administration. Kisa further revealed that the district has donated land for a regional sports stadium, citing Busoga’s history of producing top national footballers.
Maama Janet Museveni urged the people of Luuka to support President Museveni and NRM flag bearers, reaffirming the government’s commitment to free education in public schools. Other NRM leaders, including Al-Hajji Moses Kigongo and Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, called for discipline among party leaders and emphasized the need for women in Busoga to benefit fully from the GROW programme, which supports women entrepreneurs through grants, savings groups, and mentorship.
The rally attracted NRM Central Executive Committee members, Members of Parliament, and thousands of residents who expressed strong support for the NRM and its development agenda.
