Museveni takes campaigns to Kole, Lira as NRM rallies support in Lango

_________________

President Yoweri Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate, on Thursday, January 8, returned to the campaign trail in the Lango sub-region, with rallies scheduled in Kole district and Lira city as the ruling party intensifies mobilisation ahead of the 2026 elections.

In Kole district, the rally is being held at Aculbanya Secondary School playground, while a second rally is scheduled later in the day at the Golf Course Grounds in Lira city.

By mid-morning, the Aculbanya venue had already filled with NRM supporters chanting party slogans as local musicians, including Stephen Otira, Assy Youths Initiative and Omega 256, entertained the crowd.

As supporters awaited President Museveni’s arrival, Speaker of Parliament Anita Among addressed the gathering, highlighting improvements in security and living conditions in northern Uganda.

She told residents that many families who once lived in internally displaced persons’ camps have since resettled peacefully in their homes, attributing the change to sustained government interventions.

Among thanked the people of Kole for supporting her election as second vice chairperson (women) of the NRM Central Executive Committee and outlined several ongoing and planned government projects.

These include works on the Gulu to South Sudan road, completion of the road linking to the Aki-Bua Stadium ahead of Uganda’s hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations, and finalisation of a skilling institute in the area.

She also said government intends to increase funding under the Parish Development Model (PDM) to enable more households to benefit.

Addressing concerns over cattle compensation, Among assured residents that families affected by previous cattle losses would each receive five cows, noting that registration of beneficiaries was already underway. She urged voters to support President Museveni and NRM flag bearers at all levels.

Kole district, which has 11 sub-counties and town councils, 52 parishes and 586 villages, has a population of 294,301, according to the 2024 national census.

In the 2021 presidential elections, President Museveni polled 46,900 votes, representing 70 per cent of the total vote in the district. The number of registered voters has since risen from 119,437 in 2021 to 137,969 in 2025, alongside an increase in polling stations from 225 to 313.

In Lira city and neighbouring Lira district, where later campaign activities are scheduled, the combined population stands at 487,348.

In the 2021 elections, the two areas recorded a total of 214,952 registered voters, with President Museveni winning 67,179 votes. Electoral officials have since registered 256,082 voters in the area, while polling stations have increased from 358 to 575.

Local leaders used the rallies to both praise government achievements and raise outstanding concerns that they said President Museveni should address if given another term in office.

George Odyek, the councillor representing persons with disabilities in Kole district, commended government programmes such as PDM and Emyooga for supporting vulnerable groups, but said access remains difficult for many persons with disabilities due to the lack of sign language interpreters in public offices and poor physical accessibility of public buildings.

Kole NRM chairperson Lillian Anyati credited the NRM government with restoring peace and promoting freedoms in northern Uganda, saying the district has benefited from major developments, including the construction of the Kaguta District Administration Block.

However, she said residents are still waiting for the construction of the Corner Aboke to Bobi road and fulfilment of a pledge to provide a school bus to Aculbanya Secondary School.

Kole district chairperson Andrew Moses Awany said increased road funding, now at sh1 billion, has improved connectivity, while health facilities and piped water systems have expanded across the district.

He added that residents are now seeking the upgrade of Aboke Health Centre IV into a district hospital, tarmacking of the Ayer to Aboke to Bobi to Gulu road, and elevation of Abilonino Polytechnic into a degree-awarding institution.

Grace Akullo, the NRM vice chairperson for the Elders League in Kole, said the district has benefited significantly from NRM-led development and pledged continued support for President Museveni.

She urged government to fully implement the cattle restocking programme, saying it would help lift households out of poverty in a region still recovering from decades of insecurity.

The NRM manifesto for 2026 to 2031 prioritises investment in energy, expansion of schools, water and sanitation services in small towns, affirmative development initiatives such as cattle restocking and compensation, and continued implementation of post-conflict recovery programmes in northern Uganda, alongside broader infrastructure and health sector improvements.