Museveni Pledges Expanded Infrastructure and Social Services in Madi-Okollo

MADI-OKOLLO — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has commended the progress achieved under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government in Madi-Okollo District, saying peace, improved infrastructure, and ongoing development have laid a firm foundation for socio-economic transformation in the region.

“When I come to Madi-Okollo and see electricity poles, a functional murrum road, and people holding phones, I feel very happy,” the President said. “In the coming government, if we are elected, the physical and social infrastructure will definitely be expanded. The old roads are being rehabilitated, and new roadworks are in the short- and medium-term plans.”

President Museveni, the NRM’s Presidential Flagbearer for the 2026 elections, made the remarks on Tuesday during a campaign rally in Madi-Okollo, where he outlined the government’s achievements and future plans for the West Nile region.

He noted that Madi-Okollo currently has 95 primary schools—69 of which are government-funded—and 16 secondary schools spread across 32 of the district’s 46 parishes. These, he said, are results of deliberate and guided NRM policies aimed at improving access to education.

The President highlighted major infrastructure investments across West Nile, including the Vurra–Arua–Koboko Road and Atiak–Adjumani–Umi Road, which have been completed. Ongoing works include the rehabilitation of Nebbi–Alwii, Olwiyo–Pakwach, and upgrades in Pakwach and Nebbi Towns, as well as progress on the Karuma–Olwiyo and Koboko–Yumbe–Moyo roads.

“Road connectivity is key to improving trade, tourism, and household income,” he said, emphasising that government infrastructure projects are designed to lift communities out of poverty.

On education, Museveni reiterated the government’s goal of eliminating illegal charges in public schools and addressing teacher shortages. “In the coming government, if you vote for us, we shall recruit over 50,000 teachers to fill gaps and stop the excuse of fees in government schools,” he said.

He added that to tackle youth unemployment, his office established Presidential Zonal Skilling Hubs, offering six-month hands-on training for young people to create self-employment opportunities.

In the health sector, the President pledged to upgrade Rhino Health Centre III to Health Centre IV and construct more facilities across the district, noting that “improved social infrastructure complements peace and economic growth.”

Museveni further urged residents to embrace the Parish Development Model (PDM) to boost household incomes. “Our next main agenda is household poverty alleviation. So far, UGX 14 billion has been disbursed to Madi-Okollo under the PDM scheme alone,” he said.

The President also revealed plans to establish special funds for university graduates, religious leaders, cultural leaders, and a new fund for fishermen, emphasising the potential of fish farming in water-rich areas like Madi-Okollo.

Accompanying the President, First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, thanked residents for turning up in large numbers and reaffirmed the government’s focus on improving household welfare.

“The NRM government has built the foundation on which Uganda stands today — schools, hospitals, and roads — and is now going into people’s families to promote wealth,” she said.

NRM Vice Chairperson for Northern Uganda, Hon. Hamson Obua, praised the President for leading Uganda’s transformation, citing progress in electrification, road construction, and delivery of social services that have improved livelihoods in the region.

District Snapshot

Madi-Okollo District comprises 12 Sub-counties and Town Councils, 46 Parishes, and 287 villages, with a population of 178,051 according to the 2024 National Population Census.

During the 2021 Presidential Elections, the district recorded 63,404 registered voters, of which 69.5% voted for President Museveni. As of 2025, registered voters have risen to 74,805, with polling stations increasing from 121 to 185.

Under the Parish Development Model, Madi-Okollo has received a cumulative UGX 14.1 billion, with UGX 13.8 billion (97.65%) disbursed to 13,796 households, representing 36% of the district’s 38,342 households.

In education, the district has 69 government and 26 private primary schools, along with six government and 10 private secondary schools. All government secondary schools offer Universal Secondary Education (USE) and Universal Post-O-Level Education and Training (UPOLET) programmes. A new Seed Secondary School under construction will reduce the number of sub-counties without a government school from six to five.

On water access, 223 of 287 villages have safe water coverage (78%). The Aliboro Solar-Powered Irrigation System, now 35% complete, is expected to boost local agriculture by ensuring a reliable water supply, complemented by planned projects such as an earth dam in Yachi and a valley tank in Peera.

Environmental restoration continues under the Investing in Forests and Protected Areas for Climate-Smart Development (IFPA-CD) programme, targeting 2,671 households with 530 hectares of agroforestry systems. So far, 324,338 tree seedlings have been planted through the Farm Income Enhancement and Forestry Conservation Project (FIEFOC).

Madi-Okollo is now connected to the national electricity grid, marking a major milestone in rural transformation and access to energy.