Museveni takes NRM campaign to Oyam, Pakwach
The Oyam event marks Museveni’s seventh rally in Lango, a region that has warmly embraced his campaign, while the Pakwach rally will mark his first expedition into the West Nile region as the election season gains momentum.
President Museveni welcomed by a big crowd at one of his campaigns in Lango sub-region. (File/PPU)
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President Yoweri Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag-bearer for the 2026 General Election, is set to ignite the campaign trail today, October 7, 2025, with rallies in the districts of Oyam in the Lango region and Pakwach in West Nile.
The Oyam event marks Museveni’s seventh rally in Lango, a region that has warmly embraced his campaign, while the Pakwach rally will mark his first expedition into the West Nile region as the election season gains momentum.
The rallies follow the postponement of earlier planned events in Kole, Lira District, and Lira City, with new dates still to be confirmed.
Transformative development
The NRM’s manifesto anchors Museveni’s pitch, emphasising transformative investments tailored to the unique needs of Oyam and Pakwach.
In Oyam, a cornerstone initiative is the Tochi Irrigation Scheme, part of a broader push to wean agriculture off rain dependency.
“The Government has rolled out seven large-scale irrigation projects, including Tochi in Oyam and Wadelai in Pakwach,” the manifesto highlights, adding, “These schemes are stabilising farming, boosting yields and securing livelihoods against erratic weather.”
Beyond agriculture, the NRM points to tangible gains in infrastructure and land reform. In Oyam, the renovation of the Chief Magistrate’s Court has streamlined judicial services, while the Systematic Land Adjudication and Certification (SLAAC) programme has issued 24,000 freehold titles to customary landowners in Oyam, Kaabong and Mbarara city.
In Pakwach, infrastructure strides shine through completed tarmac projects for Pakwach and Nebbi town roads, alongside the ongoing rehabilitation of the 98.5-kilometre Karuma–Olwiyo–Pakwach Road.
The NRM also has ambitious plans in the pipeline, including the 220-kilometre Panyimur–Pakwach–Rhino Camp–Laropi route and a grand vision for the 764-kilometre Northern Route from Tororo to Gulu–Nimule (extending to South Sudan), with a branch from Gulu to Pakwach–Vurra (reaching the DR Congo border).
Clean water access
Clean water access is another priority, with the NRM pledging new piped water systems for domestic use in both districts.
“From irrigation to safe drinking water, we’re building systems that touch every aspect of life,” the manifesto states.
Oyam, Pakwach profiles
Oyam, carved out as a district in 2006, spans 11 sub-counties, five town councils, 74 parishes, and 1,169 villages.
Bordered by Gulu to the north, Pader to the northeast, Kole to the east, Apac to the south, Kiryandongo to the southwest, and Nwoya to the west, it’s a vibrant agricultural hub where irrigation projects like Tochi are redefining prospects for farmers.
Pakwach, which gained district status in 2015 and began operations in July 2017, is a gem of economic diversity.
Bordered by Nebbi to the west, Madi-Okolo to the north, Nwoya to the east, Buliisa to the southeast, and DR Congo to the south, it thrives on fishing, smallholder agriculture, craft-making, and tourism.
Its proximity to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest and oldest protected area, makes it a magnet for visitors, bolstering local livelihoods.
The 2024 National Population and Housing Census pegs Pakwach’s population at 206,961, with 97,830 males and 109,131 females.