Africa-Press – Uganda. President Museveni has pledged to answer the rallying call by the people of Kotido to have their roads tarmacked by government.
“The problem of roads we are solving it. We are seeing tarmac road coming from Soroti, Muyembe all through to Moroto, the next stop is Kotido. The tarmac road is moving from Lira to Kitgum to the border with Sudan. The next is Kitgum to Namukola to Karenga to Kidepo. Now are saying Moroto to Kotido to Kaabong and the border.Food can’t get to your mouth until it is in the plate first. Once food is in the mouth, the stomach can’t complain because it is coming,” Museveni said assuring the people of Kotido that tarmac is coming.
The NRM presidential candidate was on Monday addressing party supporters at Lomukura Primary School Playground, Kotido town council in Kotido district as he campaigned for another term.
Museveni made the promise after the NRM district chairman, Dr. Paul Lochap asked that government considers Kotido for tarmac roads.
“We would like government to consider tarmacking our roads so as to connect us to the rest of the world,” he said.
Dr. Lochap mentioned the Kotido-Soroti road, Kotido-Moroto road, Kotido- Kaabong road and Kotido-Nakitong road that he said are crucial in terms of connection.
“The cost of doing business in Kotido is expensive with businesses incurring a lot due to lack of tarmac roads. Having tarmac will improve access to health services, security and movement of goods and services. “
The NRM chairman also asked that the new district of Kapeta be carved out of Kotido with headquarters in Kokoria with seven sub counties to cater for growing population, noting that the proposed district has over 100,000 people, seven sub counties and two town councils
“The population of Kotido has exponentially grown from 34,000 people in 1980 to over 200,000 because of your visionary leadership in improving health services, peace and security and integrated development. We unanimously believe that creating this new district will bring services closer to people, create employment and business opportunities, improve governance and protect the fundamental rights of the minority indigenous people who are being marginalised and socially excluded by the Jie.”
He also asked that apart from the skilling hub in Napak which caters for the entire Karamoja sub-region, Kotido needs its own to help skill youths, many of whom have previously been Karachunas.
Museveni answers
Speaking in response, President Museveni admitted that infrastructure like roads, electricity, railway and telephones are the foundation of the economy and that ever area must have them.
He however said these can only be attained through prioritization.
“We have been able to bring electricity all the way from Soroti which wasn’t easy. We didn’t have money that time and had to use prioritization. This is what people don’t understand and want to do many things at ago yet NRM does things in one by one makes a bundle. That’s how we have been able to bring electricity even up to Karenga. You need to emphasise prioritization. We the bush fighters sometimes get problems with civilians who touch many things at a time,” he said.
Museveni took a swipe at teachers who previously held a sit -down strike over salary increment, noting that while government is not against their demands, they cant come at a latter time.
“You saw teachers going on strike because they want higher salary now. But we said why can’t you wait since we are fighting with road from Kotido to Moroto? That’s what the problem has been. People want to do many things at once. We want to concentrate on basics which will bring other things.”
Karamoja to become industrial centre
Museveni said Karamoja is set to become an industrial centre in Uganda with a number of factories being set up in the area
“Karamoja now is going to be an industrial centre of Uganda. We are going to have another cement factory. These are being started by the private sector. They are being done by foreigners after realising the potential which was not being exploited which is the market of Uganda. Ugandans buy cement and other products plus neighbours. We supply them and get a lot of wealth.”
He was however quick to point out peace as the springboard for everything, including development that Karamoja and Uganda as a whole are enjoying.
“NRM has brought three things including peace, electricity and roads and because of that, factories are rushing in with their own money. When we tell teachers to first hold on so we do roads for factories to come in and they we pay them, they must listen. They however say we must pay them now. Paying now and forget about the roads! We can’t do that. Once we prioritise things will be done.”
Museveni also promised to address the problem of water faced by Kotido after noting that only 125 villages out of the 491 that make up the district have access to clean water in form of boreholes.
“This is 25% coverage leaving over 366 villages without access to safe water. We need to find out what the problem is. You have three piped water systems here and on the dams some good work is being done. We are to construct more dams and boreholes.”
Wealth creation
Museveni reminded the population of the need to get involved in wealth creation, noting that there is need to differentiate between development and wealth creation.
“Don’t deceive yourselves by talking of electricity and tarmacked roads without wealth and think you are solving problems of your family. Even in Kampala with a lot of tarmac and electricity there is poverty when people don’t listen to what we tell them to use development to create wealth for themselves. We have put money for that purpose for example Parish Development Model, Emyooga and much more. More will come but you must make use of it to create wealth for your homesteads,” he said.
“This electricity is ours but if you don’t have money in your pocket, you won’t have it in your house. You won’t benefit from it. You need wealth as your household, family or company.”
To date, government has sent shs23.2 billion to the 58 parishes that make up Kotido district and of this, shs15.5 billion representing 68.45% has been disbursed to 16,038 households.
Kotido has 45,621 households in total.
Speaking during the same rally, First Lady Janet Museveni, who is also the Minister for Education and Sports hailed Karamoja for always supporting NRM overwhelmingly.
“Coming to Karamoja is like coming home for me.My heart and ears are open to hear what is happening in Karamoja. The message of the NRM moving forward is to protect the gains we have made and take a leap toward transforming Uganda,” she said.
“We are looking forward to the next term of the NRM to ensure that all families in Karamoja have decent homes — no longer grass-thatched houses. Our goal is for children to grow up in better families, with better food and improved living conditions.”
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