Amudat — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has announced a new government initiative to establish individualised water systems for commercial and small-scale farmers, in a bid to accelerate rural transformation and eradicate poverty through wealth creation.
Speaking to thousands of supporters at a campaign rally held at Kalas Girls Primary School in Amudat District, Karamoja Sub-region, on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, President Museveni said the plan will ensure that every productive household has reliable access to water for production.
“We are working out a plan for water for rural areas. Apart from the valley dams, people need water at each home,” the President said. “The communal water systems will not address their problem. We are analysing how to provide individualised water for wealth creators. In Ankole, we no longer use communal dams — I have three of my own because when animals go too far, they get diseases like ticks,” he explained.
The President noted that the policy will end overreliance on shared water facilities in semi-arid areas like Karamoja, where boreholes and valley dams are often overstretched or dry up during prolonged droughts.
Government figures show that only 18% of Amudat’s 415 villages currently have access to safe water. Completed water-for-production projects include the Kosike Valley Dam (2.7 billion litres) and Kaechom Valley Dam (1.8 billion litres), while ongoing projects include solar-powered irrigation systems and the Lowoyakur Dam, which will hold 1.4 billion litres when completed.
Peace as the Foundation of Progress
President Museveni reaffirmed that peace remains the cornerstone of Uganda’s development and the first pillar of the NRM 2026–2031 manifesto.
“If you want to know that miracles are possible in Africa, come to Karamoja and Amudat,” he said. “Before the NRM came to power, Uganda had no stable electoral or administrative systems. We restored order and unity.”
He explained that the creation of Amudat District recognised the Pokot people’s cultural and linguistic identity, describing the district’s population growth to over 203,000 as “a miracle.”
Security, Infrastructure, and Development
The President credited Uganda’s stability to the disarmament of Karamojong warriors in the early 2000s and dismissed calls to rearm local communities for self-defence.
“Why have a government if people must protect themselves?” he asked, revealing he had engaged Kenya’s President William Ruto after Turkana herdsmen killed three Ugandans, demanding compensation for the victims’ families.
Museveni also vowed to ensure all major roads in Karamoja remain passable year-round. He cited 180 km of newly completed roads, including Nadunget–Iriiri, Namalu–Nakapiripirit, and Akisim–Moroto–Lokitanyala, with more roads under construction and design. The Nakapiripirit–Amudat road will also be tarmacked to boost trade and connectivity.
Education and Health Commitments
The President reiterated his plan to abolish all fees in government schools, calling them an injustice to poor families. “When we introduced UPE in 1996, we wanted children to study for free. But some school managers brought back money,” he said.
Amudat currently has 27 government primary schools, 8 private, 2 government secondary schools, and 1 private, with three new seed schools under construction.
On health, the government plans to upgrade Karita HCIV to a General Hospital and elevate several health centres from HCII to HCIII level. New facilities will also be constructed in Karita and Kongoro sub-counties.
PDM and Wealth Creation
President Museveni urged residents to embrace government wealth creation programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), citing success stories from farmers who used the funds to expand livestock, crop, and piggery enterprises.
Amudat District has so far received UGX 13.49 billion under the PDM, with 97.2% disbursed to 12,118 households — about 28.6% of all households. The President also pledged vehicles for cooperatives to help farmers transport goods to urban markets. “We shall support cooperatives with group transport to access Kampala markets,” he said.
First Lady Urges 100% NRM Vote
First Lady and Education Minister Janet Kataaha Museveni called on residents to vote overwhelmingly for the NRM to consolidate the peace and development achieved under its leadership. “The NRM government is your government. Please ensure Amudat votes 100% for President Museveni and all NRM flagbearers,” she said.
In the 2021 elections, President Museveni won 97.6% of the vote in Amudat. The district’s registered voters have since increased from 43,647 to 58,203, with polling stations rising from 120 to 164.
The event was attended by senior government and NRM leaders, including Speaker Anita Annet Among, NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong, and Karamoja Vice Chairperson John Baptist Loki, who all urged residents to maintain their loyalty to the ruling party.
