On return to Lango, Museveni praises progress and warns against PDM corruption

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It was a homecoming charged with gratitude, political symbolism and a clear message of discipline. When President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni returned to Lango on Saturday (April 18) after his emphatic January 2026 election victory, the celebration quickly turned into a moment of reckoning: deliver wealth to every household—or face the consequences.

President Yoweri Museveni arriving at Lango College Playground to attend NRM victory celebration organised by Lango leaders led by ESO Director General Joseph Ocwet. (Credit: Hudson Apunyo)

President Yoweri Museveni is welcomed by NRM leaders, government officials and security officials at Lango College. (Credit: Hudson Apunyo)

Standing before jubilant crowds and political leaders, Museveni thanked the people of Lango for what he called “wise and massive voting”. But beyond the applause, he laid out a stark directive: the Parish Development Model (PDM) must work for every household, and corruption will not be tolerated.

The mood in Lira was unmistakably triumphant. Leaders described the region’s overwhelming support as both historic and deliberate.

Health minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, the NRM chairperson for Lira City, hailed the President’s 80.4 percent vote share in the city, surpassing even his performance in Mbarara City, as proof of a political shift toward “development-oriented choices”.

Across Lango, the numbers were even more striking: over 84 percent support, cementing the sub-region as one of the ruling party’s strongest bases.

But the gratitude came with requests: more jobs, infrastructure, an airport, an industrial park in Aler, and increased agricultural support, particularly coffee seedlings.

Religious leaders from Lango, led by Lango Diocese Bishop Prof. Alfred Olwa, say a prayer during the function at Lango College Playground. (Credit: Hudson Apunyo)

'This is money'

In his address, Museveni cut through the celebration with a focused agenda. His top priority: universal access to PDM funds.

He instructed leaders to move beyond general talk and account for progress parish by parish, household by household.

Every family, he insisted, must receive the sh1 million support within the next five years.

To drive the point home, Museveni shared the story of Vicky Apio, a beneficiary who turned sh970,000 into a thriving farming enterprise, earning sh2.8 million in her first season and eventually building a herd of 60 sheep.

He paired this with another example from Karamoja, where a farmer combined PDM funds with Operation Wealth Creation support to earn millions from mangoes and livestock.

“These are not stories,” Museveni emphasised. “This is money.”

Beyond PDM and Emyooga, Museveni unveiled a fresh intervention: free distribution of coffee and fruit seedlings using government land, including his own at Baralegi.

The strategy is clear. Let citizens choose how to invest PDM funds, but guide national production toward export crops like coffee and fruits.

He also highlighted the importance of regional markets, pointing to the East African economic bloc as critical for absorbing Uganda’s growing agricultural output.

Jail for the corrupt 

Then came the sharpest moment of the day, as Museveni issued a direct and uncompromising warning to leaders and implementers of PDM

“Nobody should deduct any money from your PDM. There is enough space at Luzira [Prison].”

The message was unmistakable. Anyone found siphoning funds meant for the poor will face jail time.

The President urged leaders to enforce accountability at the grassroots, framing corruption not just as theft, but as sabotage of national transformation.

Political turning point

The celebration also carried deep historical reflection.

Amb. Joseph Ocwet traced Lango’s turbulent journey, from the chaos following the fall of the UPC government in 1985 to the destruction of Lira and years of insurgency. He recalled the devastation that followed, including rebellions such as the Holy Spirit Movement insurgency and the brutal campaign of the Lord's Resistance Army led by Joseph Kony.

“People were suffering. The city was burnt. Many ran away,” said Ocwet.

But he noted a turning point after 1986, crediting Museveni’s leadership with restoring stability and gradually rebuilding the region.

Today, he said, Lango’s overwhelming support reflects a shift from skepticism to acceptance, and now to endorsement.

On his part, Government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua underscored that transformation with striking statistics.

From just 17 percent support in 1996, Lango has climbed steadily to over 84 percent in 2026. Obua gave the performance as a “distinction one".

'A no-sleep election'

Veteran mobiliser and newly elected Erute South MP Sami Engola, widely regarded as one of the oldest and most consistent supporters of the NRM in Lango, offered a deeply personal reflection on the region’s political journey.

He described the 2026 campaign as a “no-sleep election” marked by relentless mobilisation across communities.

He traced Lango’s steady shift toward the NRM — from as low as 7 percent support in earlier elections to over 84 percent today — calling it a hard-earned transformation built over decades of persuasion and grassroots engagement.

“This is a very big achievement,” Engola said, thanking voters, local leaders and mobilisers who “listened and stayed the course”.

He paid tribute to long-time supporters.; some of whom, he noted, had backed the NRM for over 30 years without ever getting the chance to meet the President in person. Many, he said, had repeatedly asked to be brought closer to Museveni, not for favours, but simply to express their gratitude.

Engola also pointed to the unusual coalition that delivered the landslide, including groups of opposition supporters — particularly from the Uganda People's Congress — who chose to vote for Museveni while retaining their party identity.

Time for delivery

Beyond the festive atmosphere, the message from State House was clear: the election is over, delivery begins now.

Museveni promised to return for a bigger celebration. But his immediate focus is implementation: Expand PDM coverage, scale up Emyooga, intensify restocking in northern Uganda, improve road access, and eliminate corruption.

For Lango, a region that has endured decades of conflict and recovery, the moment represents both recognition and responsibility.

The votes have been cast. The expectations are rising. And as Museveni made clear in Lira, the next five years will be judged not by promises, but by results.