BIG READ: What Museveni, Acholi NRM leaders discussed

President Yoweri Museveni was recently in Acholi sub-region canvassing for votes to be re-elected to lead the country come January next year. While there, he met party leaders with whom he discussed a number of issues.

But first, Acholi sub-region is comprised of eight districts, namely; Agago, Amuru, Gulu, Kitgum, Lamwo, Nwoya, Omoro and Pader districts.

It has a total population of 1,580,300 as per the UBOS figures of 2014 Population Census. It has one city, one municipality and 18 constituencies, with 77 sub-counties, 364 parishes and 2,845 villages.

Plan for wealth creation, jobs? 

One of the major pillars of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in its 2021-2026 Manifesto includes the creation of jobs and wealth for the people. But how is this reflected in Acholi sub-region? 

Museveni, in his campaign message in Acholi said that the Government has capitalised the Uganda Development Bank with sh1 trillion in 2020/21 financial year. 

 
Before this, UDB had been capitalised with about sh400bn. "This fund is supposed to address the high cost of money the commercial banks charge. This fund will be accessed by those investing in value addition, agriculture production, tourism and education infrastructure at an interest not more than 12%," a brief to the NRM leaders notes.

More so, the President promised to capitalize it. This financial year, UDC was capitalized with sh130b. UDC, according to the NRM, government will invest in agro-processing factories in every sub-region in Uganda to process what is locally produced.

More so, Museveni says the sub-region has benefited from the Northern Uganda Nusaf 1, II and III and PRDP I, II and III which focused mainly on social infrastructure. 

Museveni said: "We are going to introduce PRDP 4 which will be focusing on household incomes on top of Operation Wealth Creation. With the above funds, Ugandans in different economic activities will be reached. We will also promote serviced industrial parks in various regions of Uganda to promote job creation." 

The other areas of concern to the President were the issues of land fragmentation and high school charges which are pushing children out of school.

He promised that when re-elected, there is a need to have village assemblies to discuss this matter. He also noted that the Government plans to construct more public schools to help parents with free education.
 
Museveni also noted that the NRM is still studying the issue of school feeding.

Through the use of technology, Museveni noted that the NRM is going to eliminate the stealing of drugs in government health centres. "The same technology which we have started rolling out in Regional Referral Hospitals will also eliminate absenteeism of health workers. It will be rolled out to all health centres."

He also explained: "Government through UDC bought shares in Atiak Sugar Factory which has already started producing sugar. Furthermore, through NAADS/OWC, government has helped about 7,000 households in Amuru and Lamwo plant sugarcane as out-growers." 

Under this programme, the Government carried out bush clearing, ploughing, planting and weeding for the out-growers who are organized in farmer Cooperatives. 

"The out-growers will be earning income by selling sugarcane to the factory," he explained. 

He also noted that the NRM Government through UDC is going to work with the Arch-Diocese of Gulu to establish Starch Factory there. He explained that the OWC has been working with the Catholic Church to mobilise farmers in Acholi to plant cassava. 

"The factory will offer a market to the cassava farmers," he explained. 
UDC is carrying out a feasibility study which is expected to be completed in January 2021.  Museveni noted that sh14b had been put aside to start off the project. 

Furthermore, the NRM through UDC is going to buy shares in Bukona Agro factory, located in Nwoya, which is processing ethanol from cassava. 

The President said that the ethanol produced will be used for cooking as opposed to the one for spirits. UDC is going to invest sh11b to buy shares and another sh12b as working capital. The ministry of finance has already released the money to UDC. This too will create a market for the cassava farmers in Acholi. 

More so, Museveni explained that NAADS/OWC is in the process of procurement of a fruit processing plant to be located in Nwoya. The government is working with a private entity "Delight" in this venture. After the installation of the equipment, UDC will bring in working capital.

Museveni, told the people of Acholi that he is convinced that the above four factories will bring wealth to the farmers in Acholi who are planting sugarcane, cassava and fruits.
 
"On cassava, each of the two factories above needs about 8,000 acres of cassava to supply it. It's estimated that at the moment 10,000 acres are under cassava plantation in Acholi.
 
"Out of these, about 7,000 acres is cassava planted through the Church mobilisation. It's estimated that from one acre of cassava the yield is two tonnes annually. The factories will be buying a tonne at sh2.5m, hence, from one acre, a farmer can earn sh5m," he said.

Payments to veterans 

President Museveni explained that since 2010, the Government through the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs (MODVA) has been handling payments of Veterans especially their pension and gratuity arrears which accumulated due the state of economy at the time of the first discharge of retirees in 1992.

Since 2015, MODVA took a decision to retire its personnel after identification of funds and because of this policy there is no backlog of pensions and gratuity since then. The outcry remains with those whose retirement was before 2014. 

"The countrywide backlog payments has been reduced from 154,537 retirees to 68,629 retirees due for payment. The amounts due keep accumulating until day of payment." 
But the President says that "This financial year 2020/21, a total of 11,000 retirees will be paid from the sh90b already released to the Ministry of Defence."

He also explained that during FY 2021/22, another sh90b will be released to pay the remaining 14,033 claimants.
 
"The 43,000 claimants who have not turned up for document verification will also be handled if they turn up to claim. Verification of documents is necessary due to the time lag between discharge date and today to avoid fraud," Museveni told the people of Acholi.

Cattle compensation 

Museveni also promised that the Government was going to allocate sh50b each to Acholi, Lango and Teso for cattle compensation.

Youth funds

Museveni said that in regard to the Youth Livelihood Programme and the Women Fund; sh160b has been given out to various youth groups and sh106 billion has been given out in the last four years. 

He added: "Youth Industrial Hubs are being set up by State House in every sub-region. These will train the youth in various skills like carpentry, welding, mechanics, shoe making, tailoring, knitting, weaving." 

Emyooga Fund 

Under this fund, he also explained that 18 different activities are already being organized in every parish. Each Emyooga will get sh30m at the Constituency level while the one of the elected leaders will get sh50m. In total, each Constituency will get sh560m. 

He also cited other achievements to support the youth in the sub-region as; 
Other NAADS/OWC supplies in the last four years: 

● Agago District received 99 Dairy Cattle for Livestock enterprises

● Agago District got 5,000 and 03 Tractors for Farm Mechanisation Equipment

● Amuru District received 02 Tractors for Farm Mechanisation Equipment

Gulu District

● Gulu District received 77 Dairy Cattle for Livestock enterprises

● Gulu District got 03 Tractors for Farm Mechanisation Equipment

Kitgum District

● Kitgum District received 126 Dairy Cattle for Livestock enterprises

● Kitgum District got 5,000 hoes and 03 Tractors for Farm Mechanisation Equipment
 
Lamwo District
 
● Lamwo District received 138 Dairy Cattle for Livestock enterprises

● Lamwo District got 6,000 hoes and 03 Tractors for Farm Mechanisation Equipment

Nwoya District

● Nwoya District received 80 Dairy Cattle for Livestock enterprises

● Nwoya District got 03 Tractors for Farm Mechanisation Equipment

Omoro District 

● Omoro District received 120 Dairy Cattle for Livestock enterprises

● Omoro District got 03 Tractors for Farm Mechanisation Equipment

Pader District
 
● Pader District received 101 Dairy Cattle for Livestock enterprises

● Pader District got 03 Tractors for Farm Mechanisation Equipment

Education 

This is also one of the main pillars of the NRM in the new Manifesto. 
Distribution of Public Secondary Schools per sub-county.

The President says that the NRM policy is to have a government secondary school in every Sub County. In this regard, out of 78 Sub-Counties and Divisions, 47 Sub Counties each has a government secondary school and 31 Sub Counties don't have government secondary schools. (Sub Counties have been increased to 137 this year).

"In order to provide government secondary schools in the sub-counties without them, construction of eight secondary schools started in eight sub-counties last financial year," he noted.
 
Furthermore, the construction of seven secondary schools is planned to start this financial year 2020/21 in seven sub-counties.

Museveni said this will increase the number of sub-counties with government secondary schools from the current 47 to 62. The rest of the sub-counties, the majority of which are new, will be planned for in the next five years.

Technical schools/institutions

Museveni noted that there are 10 Technical Institutions and Colleges in Acholi sub-region. Government sponsors 50 students in a government technical institute. The rest pay fees for themselves. However, this is part of the problem of why enrollment in these institutions is low. 

The other reason is that the Institutes and Polytechnics enroll those who have completed Senior Four. This leaves out those who could have dropped out of schools without reaching and completing Senior Four.
  
In the manifesto Museveni noted: "We are proposing that students in the Technical Institutes and Polytechnics study at no pay and, secondly, enrollment will be based on those who need to join without necessarily having completed Senior Four." 

Health sector

This forms one of the other pillars of this Manifesto. Museveni said that on the health Infrastructure, "The NRM policy is to have a Health Centre III in every sub-county. Out of 137 sub-counties in Acholi, 65 of them have Health Centre IIIs." 

He also noted that the construction of Health Centre IIIs is ongoing in the 10 sub-counties of; Agago: Amot, Omiya, Lukole sub-counties. Amuru: Amuru Town Council. Lamwo: Padipe East. Nwoya: Koch Lii Sub County. Pader: Ataaga Sub County. Omoro: Lakwaya, Koro, Acen Sub Counties. Kitgum: Paradwong Division."

He also noted that the construction of Health Centre IIIs is planned to start this financial year 2020/21 in the following 11 sub-counties. 

Museveni said construction of Heath Centre IIIs is planned for in the financial year 2021/22 in the following 3 Divisions/Town Councils in Kitgum. They are; Pager, Kitgum Central and Namokora Town Council. 

With the completion of the above 26 HC IIIs either under construction or planned for, the sub-counties with Health Centre IIIs in Acholi will increase from the current 65 to 91. Out of the new total of 137 sub-counties including the new ones, the sub-counties without HC IIIs will be 46.  Museveni said that these will be considered in the next five years. 

He also noted that the construction of the following HC IVs is planned for Kilak South in Amuru, Upgrading of Bobi Health IIIs in Omoro to a Health Centre IV, up grading of Kitgum Matidi HC III to a HC IV and construction of a HC IV in Chua East constituency in Kitgum district.

In the next five years, Museveni said that Gulu Regional Referral Hospital will be upgraded to a National Referral Hospital. The hospital will also be equipped with modern equipment. The upgrade will among others include setting up a cancer centre at the hospital.

Museveni also revealed that Kitgum Hospital is earmarked for renovation in the next five years.

On the issue of Malaria, he said: "Our target is to eliminate malaria in the country through appropriate vector control and chemoprevention measures."
He said this will be done through mass intermittent preventive treatment for malaria countrywide.

Museveni also noted that there will be a continued countrywide distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets to achieve universal coverage. 

Water sector

In the Acholi Region, Museveni explained that National Water and Sewerage Corporation operates in the towns of Gulu, Unyama, Anaka, Kitgum, Pader, Pajule, Patongo and Kalongo. The water supply sources are both borehole and surface water and currently the total monthly water production is 177,000m3 per month. Currently, a total population of 375,000 people are served in the Acholi region. 

The water distribution network length is 679km in total for all the Operational Areas and Rural Growth Centers. As at October 2020, the system had 16,685 water connections and 498 Public Stand Pipes. 

Sewerage Services

In the region, National Water and Sewerage Corporation offers sewerage services in Gulu City which has sewer mains network of 22km mainly in the central business district with a set of Waste Water Stabilization Treatment ponds and 1 No fecal sludge treatment plant. The total number of customers connected to the sewer in Gulu are 786.

What should be done? 

In regard to the issue of water, Museveni said that this sub-sector's achievement can only be measured through the progressive increase in the total safe water coverage and improvements in the sanitation statistic over time.

"In the next five years our plan is to supply the remaining area," Museveni said, "Villages will each at least have one water source."

He also talked about the construction of Orom Piped water system in Kitgum, which is at 60% completion level. Museveni noted that the system when completed will supply six areas of Katwotwo, Lakwanya, Agoromin, Bale, Kalabong and Longor with a total piped network of 113.26km (transmission lines-25.12km and distribution lines-88.14kms).
  
Museveni said that the Government is constructing three water offices at roofing level and at wall plate level for Longor and Acholibur, and that four out of six pump houses have been constructed to 67% completion.

He cited the completed construction designs for the Piped water systems of Ogili in Agago and Potika Gravity Flow Scheme in Lamwo awaiting the availability of funds to commence construction.

Museveni also reminded the people of Acholi that the Government he leads successfully implemented Gwenotom solar mini-piped water system in Nwoya District which is to serve an estimated population of 1,750.

He also explained that the Government successfully implemented two solar-powered mini piped water schemes namely; Geregere solar mini-piped water system in Agago District, Omot sub-county and Ogonyo HC III solar mini-piped water system in Pader District.
 
The other achievement cited was the construction of a Solar-Powered Micro Irrigation scheme which is ongoing in Anaka sub-county, Yweya Parish Dongolem village, Nwoya district, serving Donglem farmers. 

Completed Projects 

Museveni, among the completed projects, mentioned the constructed Agoro irrigation scheme in Agoro sub-county in Lamwo District (650 ha).

He also noted that the Government constructed Lutuk Small Scale Irrigation scheme in Koch Goma sub-county in Nwoya District (5 acres); on top of Constructing Wangkwoko earth dam in Kitgum District and undertaking feasibility studies for Unyama (Pabbo) Irrigation scheme in Pabbo sub-county in Amuru/Gulu Districts.

Ongoing Projects

Among the ongoing projects includes the construction of Uyweri Small Scale Irrigation scheme in Achwa Sub-county in Gulu District (11.6 acres).

The other is the feasibility study for Nyimur Irrigation scheme in Lamwo District. He also cited the design of Geregere earth dam in Agago District, and the feasibility study for mega irrigation schemes development around the Agoro hills.

Design and Construction of Multi-Purpose Strategic Dams
 
Museveni explained that there are plans to construct Geregere earth dam in Agago District and that the Government is to undertake identification of potential sites for design and construction of multipurpose strategic earth dams in the Sub-region.

Museveni also said with possible funding from the Islamic Development Bank, these projects will be worked on. 

● Construction of micro irrigation systems of 5 - 20 ha each using GoU funding in Amuru, Nwoya, Gulu, Lamwo, Kitgum, Agago and Pader Districts.

● Construction of medium-scale irrigation scheme of about 100 ha at Geregere earth dam in Agago District to be developed with possible funding from Government.  

● Design and construction of Nyimur, Palyec, and Purongo irrigation schemes in Amuru and Nwoya districts.

● Remedial works at Agoro irrigation scheme in Agoro Sub-county 

Infrastructure

Museveni noted that there has been the rehabilitation of the Tororo- Gulu railway line, which commenced early this year.

He added: "The NRM will rehabilitate the current MGR line from Gulu to Pakwach and the Busoga loop (Jinja, Mbulamuti and Busembatia)." 

Museveni also noted that the Gulu Trade Logistics Hub is expected to reduce barriers to trade in the region by facilitating the; Consolidation of cargo, improved warehousing facilities for cargo and ease distribution of cargo within the region & in the neighboring countries of South Sudan & DRC

Roads sector

Museveni explained that all the roads promised in the last Manifesto were completed.  He mentioned the Atyiak - Nimule (35 km); Acholibur - Kitgum - Musingo (86.4 km), Gulu - Acholibur (77.7km), and Olwiyo - Gulu (70.3 km).
 
He also cited the old roads which were rehabilitated or reconstructed which includes the Kafu - Kiryandongo - Kamdini (43 km) and Kamdini - Gulu (62 km)
Museveni also noted that there will be new road works on Atyiak - Adjumani - Umi. And Apac - Lira - Puranga road.

Municipal roads
 
The Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) Program was a $150 million World Bank Funded Programme. The Program Development Objective was to enhance the institutional performance of the 14 programme municipalities to improve urban service delivery.
 
Museveni said that in 2017, the NRM government procured 1,151 pieces of road construction equipment worth $155m from Japan. Each district was given a road unit consisting of a motor grader, wheel loader, two dump trucks, and a water bowser. Other beneficiaries included UNRA, KCCA, NEC, and Ministry of Works and transport.