President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on voters in Adjumani West County to unite behind National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer James Pilli Leku, saying political unity is necessary for peace, development and effective representation.
Museveni made the call on Tuesday, September 15, while campaigning for Leku at Padiri Stadium in Adjumani Town Council, ahead of Thursday’s parliamentary by-election.
The President’s visit followed his tribute to the late Gen Moses Ali, the former Adjumani West MP and First Deputy Prime Minister, whose death on July 18 created the vacancy. Museveni laid a wreath at Ali’s grave at Taqwa Mosque before proceeding to the campaign rally.
“I’m here to beg you to support Leku because he is the one who will support NRM, and I thank all the others who have supported him,” President Museveni said.
Museveni welcomed the decision by former candidate Ben Anyama to withdraw from the race and support Leku, urging supporters of the different candidates to work together.
“I ask my supporters and the supporters of other candidates, for the sake of peace and unity, to rally behind the NRM candidate and cooperate,” he said.
Anyama, who had initially contested the seat, announced his withdrawal and endorsed Leku ahead of the election. He separately appealed to his former supporters to support the NRM candidate and urged residents to put previous political differences aside.
The by-election has narrowed to a contest between Leku and independent candidate Gasper Draga after Anyama and former FDC candidate Patrick Tandrupasi withdrew from the race.
Museveni highlights roads, electricity and schools
Museveni used the rally to highlight government investments in infrastructure and social services in West Nile, particularly roads and electricity. “Instead of war, we now have tarmacked roads from Kampala to Nimule,” he said.
He cited the Laropi-Moyo road and Laropi Bridge among infrastructure projects requiring continued government attention, as well as the Nebbi-Gulu road.
On education, Museveni recalled the limited number of secondary schools in Uganda when he was a student and contrasted that with the expansion of schools in Adjumani.
“In 1961, I went to Ntare School, and we had a boy from Adjumani. Not a single A-Level secondary school was here by that time. We had only six secondary schools in Uganda by that time, but we now have 11 secondary schools in Adjumani District,” he said.
He also cited the expansion of electricity in the region. “We now have electricity all the way from Adjumani, and from Lira–Pakwach–Arua to Koboko districts,” Museveni said.
The President, however, said infrastructure should not be the only measure of development, arguing that households must also increase their incomes and wealth. “There is a difference between development and wealth,” he said.
He explained that while roads, schools, health centres and electricity serve communities collectively, households also need to become economically stronger.
“The tarmac road is for all of us, but development is for your house. Let’s divert some money from roads, schools and health centres to the Parish Development Model (PDM) because PDM addresses development,” Museveni said.
He pointed to households struggling to meet basic needs as evidence of the need to focus on household income and wealth creation.
Opposition politicians cross to NRM
NRM Vice Chairperson for Northern Region, Hon. Dennis Hamson Obua, presented a group of opposition politicians and supporters who crossed to the ruling party during the rally.
Among those who joined the NRM were members of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and the National Unity Platform (NUP).
The FDC group was led by Patrick Tandrupasi, who withdrew from the Adjumani West parliamentary race and declared support for Leku.
NRM Secretary General Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong said the defections demonstrated what he described as the growing strength of the party in West Nile.
Todwong also commended the coexistence between refugees and host communities in Adjumani District, saying the two populations are almost equal in size.
He called on political leaders to promote discipline and mutual respect among their supporters and support Leku in the by-election.
Todwong also congratulated Museveni on his 82nd birthday, describing it as an occasion to recognise the President’s leadership and contribution to Uganda.
Leaders call for development
NRM Chairman for Adjumani District, Akuku Charles Anzo, commended Museveni for what he described as peace and security in the country.
Akuku urged residents to participate in government wealth-creation programmes and appealed to the President to support the construction of Laropi Bridge.
He also asked the government to consider upgrading Adjumani Town Council to municipal status.
The Adjumani West parliamentary by-election is scheduled for September 17, 2026. Leku won the NRM primary with 9,336 votes, representing 37.2 per cent, narrowly defeating Anyama, who received 9,152 votes.
The Electoral Commission has set Thursday for voters to elect a successor to Gen Moses Ali, who represented Adjumani West for several years.
