President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Tuesday continued his re-election campaign trail in Pakwach District, rallying residents to deliver an even bigger win for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in the upcoming elections.
Pakwach, a district with a population of about 206,000 people, gave President Museveni 61 percent of the votes in the last election.
In his remarks, the President expressed confidence that the district would “do even better this time,” urging residents to “consolidate the gains made under NRM.”
The President’s campaign event drew large crowds from the predominantly fishing communities that border Murchison Falls National Park, where local leaders presented a memorandum highlighting pressing challenges.
Among the key issues raised were calls to reform the Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) to end alleged harassment of fishermen, and to clearly demarcate boundaries between community land and areas managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) — a dispute that has fueled long-standing conflicts.
The leaders also appealed to the President to fulfill earlier pledges, including upgrading Pakwach Health Centre IV to hospital status, elevating Pakwach Town Council to a municipality, and expediting the Science and Technology Industrial Park promised in 2018.
“Your Excellency, the people of Pakwach appreciate your visit but request urgent reforms to support fishing livelihoods and improve healthcare and infrastructure,” one of the leaders said while presenting the memo.
Museveni acknowledged the district’s concerns and said government remains committed to promoting tourism development and industrial growth in West Nile.
“Tourism and fisheries can transform local incomes if managed well. We are going to ensure better coordination among agencies,” he assured.
Meanwhile, the President cautioned security personnel and local authorities against obstructing opposition candidates from campaigning, emphasizing that “every candidate has the right to freely seek support.”
The campaign in Pakwach is part of Museveni’s broader effort to consolidate NRM’s base across Northern Uganda as he seeks a sixth term in office.