West Nile has greatly transformed under NRM — party SG Todwong

WEST NILE - West Nile region, which used to be a war frontline between government forces and rebel groups, has greatly transformed under the leadership of President Yoweri Museveni, National Resistance Movement (NRM) party secretary general Richard Todwong has said.

Speaking about the NRM achievements since 1986, Todwong said from the three districts of Arua, Moyo and Nebbi, West Nile now boasts of 13 districts, which are administrative structures meant to enable the population to be served well by the government.

“By 1986, there was no single tarmac road that linked West Nile to the rest of the country. But now we have good tarmac from Kampala up to Koboko and Oraba border with South Sudan, we are even connecting from Koboko, Yumbe, Moyo up to Adjumani and then to Atiak-Nimule road,” he says.

Speaking to journalists at Hotel La Confidentiel in Arua city on October 14, 2025, the secretary general said the NRM has greatly improved the road network in this region.

The briefing was attended by the Chief Whip and NRM national vice-chairperson for northern region, Hamson Obua and Arua City MP seat flag-bearer Jackson Atima.

Other roads that are making West Nile shine, include the one connecting from Pakwach to Panyimur, Goli, through Dei to Vurra; from Goli to Paidha, Vurra and then to Arua, which is still under construction; Pakwach-Madi-Okollo-Obongi-Moyo; Madi-Okollo-Ragem-Arua.

Todwong, however, said the Government has found a lot of challenges in roads wearing out fast due to the heavy trucks going to DR Congo and South Sudan.

According to him, the President has guided on this matter by suggesting that the Government will have to develop a railway network and let trains transport heavy goods and leave the roads to light cargo and lighter vehicles to reduce on-road damage.

Todwong recalled that as a schoolboy in 1986, passengers would spend two weeks travelling from Arua to Kampala because of the bad roads. He added that there were few buses and passengers needed to book a bus two weeks in advance.

“But under NRM, it is now a few hours to travel to Kampala. The roads were full of dust then, and people had to wash their faces before arriving in the city. Now, one can wear a suit and reach Kampala when still clean,” he said, adding that these sound simple, but they are real achievements. 

By 1986, according to Todwong, homes in Arua, for example, were deserted, and the majority of residents had moved to Eastern DRC and South Sudan, fleeing insecurity.

“This area was a war frontline because the Government of the day was instead hunting its citizens. People had to go into exile, and this area was a battleground; there was nothing here,” he said.

He added that by 1986, when the NRM government started engaging the population and the security situation, they could now speak of peace and security. Because of this, he said, people have embraced the government development programmes, including the Parish Development Model (PDM), which he said has taken root in West Nile.  

Electricity

Connection to the national grid is another achievement by the NRM.

According to Todwong, West Nile had been cut off from the National grid, and people used generators to light up their houses, with a few using solar power.

He said the Government has connected the area with power, mainly coming from Nyagak Hydro Power Station located on Nyagak River in Zombo district. According to him, all West Nile districts have been powered by the NRM government.

“This election [2026] is about protecting what Ugandans have been able to achieve over the years,” he said.

The NRM focus, Todwong said, is now to ensure that households are empowered enough to use all the facilities that NRM has put in place.