President Museveni’s barracks plan could unlock Sebei’s growth

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✍️  OPINION 

By Isaac Malinga Maikut

Peace is costly, but it is worth the expense. For my people of Soi County and the wider Sebei sub-region, this wisdom is not abstract. It is a lived reality shaped by years of navigating insecurity that is quiet, persistent, and deeply disruptive.

For far too long, our communities, especially in the lower belt, have endured a pattern of low-intensity but recurring insecurity.

Livestock theft, often orchestrated by a few unscrupulous individuals within and around our communities, has steadily eaten into household wealth. At the same time, sporadic cattle raids from some elements across the Karamoja border have compounded the problem.

These incidents have routinely made national headlines without tangible response, and yet their cumulative effect is devastating.

A cow lost today, a goat stolen tomorrow — over time, these losses translate into unpaid school fees, unmet medical bills, and diminished livelihoods.

In rural economies like ours, livestock is not merely property; it is capital, security, and dignity.

They say, when there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you. Yet in our situation, the challenge has often been both internal and external.

A small group of bad actors, on either side, has continued to undermine the peace that the vast majority of our people deeply desire. Local leaders, elders, and community structures have made commendable efforts to address this. Numerous meetings have been held between communities in Sebei and neighboring Karamoja.

These engagements have been guided by a shared vision: to replace conflict with cooperation and build a future anchored in mutual respect.

However, while well-intentioned, these efforts have not yielded the lasting solution we need. At times, these low-key raids have escalated into violent confrontations. Tribal clashes have occurred. Lives have been lost. Families have been left grieving.

During my campaigns, I noticed that each incident weakens the fragile trust that binds neighbouring communities.

And yet, it is important to state clearly: the people of Soi County and Sebei at large do not seek conflict. We seek harmony.

I envision a future where our borders are not fault lines of tension but corridors of opportunity, where shared markets thrive, where farmers and traders move freely, and where collaborative initiatives uplift our people from poverty. We want to build together, not break apart.

It is in this context that I warmly commend His Excellency the President for pledging to establish a military barracks in the lower belt between Kween and Bulambuli districts. This decision is not merely about security; it is about strategy, foresight, and development.

Security is the foundation upon which all progress rests. Without it, roads lose value, markets shrink, and investments hesitate. With it, communities flourish, businesses expand, and hope takes root.

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) have, on several occasions, intervened to restore calm whenever tensions escalated. Their presence has been effective, their response commendable. However, these interventions have largely been reactive.

A permanent military barracks offers something more enduring: prevention.

It will deter criminal elements, provide rapid response to emerging threats, and reassure communities that their lives and property are protected. It will transform security from a temporary fix into a sustained guarantee.

A village without elders is like a well without water, goes another proverb. In today’s governance, strong security institutions serve as those “elders” — custodians of order and enablers of peace.

The proposed barracks will not only serve Soi County, but will also stabilize neighbouring parts of Bulambuli and the wider Sebei corridor. It will address pockets of lawlessness, deter land grabbing, and reinforce the rule of law.

As a petroleum engineer, I view development through interconnected systems. 

Security, infrastructure, and economic growth are deeply linked. One cannot thrive without the others.

Consider the Bulambuli–Soi–Nakapiripirit highway, which is nearing completion. This road holds immense promise. It will connect regions, facilitate trade, and unlock economic potential. But its full value can only be realized in a secure environment.

A road without security is a risk. A road with security is an opportunity. The establishment of a barracks along this corridor will therefore multiply the benefits of this infrastructure.

Farmers will transport produce without fear. Traders will expand their markets. Tourists will explore our landscapes with confidence. Investors will find assurance in stability.

In essence, security will unlock prosperity. I am equally encouraged by the President’s directive to the Prime Minister to follow up on this initiative with the Chief of Defence Forces.

This signals seriousness and commitment at the highest level of leadership.

On behalf of the people of Soi County, I wholeheartedly welcome this decision and urge that its implementation be expedited as soon as possible. Our communities are ready. Our farmers, traders, and families are eager to embrace a future defined not by fear, but by opportunity.

History teaches us that societies that invest in peace position themselves for progress. Those who neglect it risk stagnation.

This initiative is therefore not just a response to insecurity — it is an investment in long-term development.

But as we celebrate this step, we must also remember that sustainable peace requires collective responsibility. Security forces can provide protection, but communities must build trust. Leaders must continue to engage across borders. And all of us must reject those who seek to profit from division.

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together, the proverb reminds us. Our journey must be one of togetherness.

With strengthened security, improved infrastructure, and a shared commitment to cooperation, Sebei and its neighbours can become a model of peaceful coexistence and regional transformation.

The President’s pledge is therefore not just about a barracks. It is about restoring confidence, protecting livelihoods, and unlocking the full potential of our people.

It is about turning a history of tension into a future of opportunity. And for that, we are deeply grateful.
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(The author, Isaac Malinga Maikut (pictured below), is MP-elect for Soi County, Kween district, and a petroleum engineer)