President Museveni Salutes Kalaki Residents For Their Role In Restoring Peace, Promises Further Development

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today, in the company of the
First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataha
Museveni, held a campaign rally at Kalaki Primary School in Kalaki Town
Council, Kalaki District, where he saluted the people in the district for
their bravery and contribution to peace in the Teso sub-region.

“The Manifesto of the NRM has seven points — what the NRM has done
for Uganda and what it intends to do. The first one is peace. We fought
the rebels and cattle rustlers, and I must salute Kalaki because you
helped us to defeat Tabule. He once tried to ambush me but escaped
before I got him. I thank you, the Arrow Boys,” the President said.

He noted that the peace enjoyed today in Teso and across Uganda is a
result of the cooperation between the NRM and patriotic citizens who
stood firm against insecurity.

“Because of your courage, we now have peace. Peace is the foundation
of everything  without it, there can be no development,” he added.
The President said the next pillar of the NRM’s contribution is
development  focusing on economic and social infrastructure such as
roads, electricity, water, ferries, and telecommunications.

“You can check what has been done for Teso. The road from Lira
through Katine and Kamdin is already done, and we are going to work

on the road from Katine to Kalaki and Ochero  that money is already
available,” he said.

“I am also going to look for money to work on the road from Ochero to
Amolatar, and the one from Buyende to Kagwara. On the side of
electricity, we shall find out why it sometimes goes off, because the
country now has enough supply.

The railway is also being worked on
from Tororo through Kampala and Lira up to Pakwach,” the President
said.

He revealed that key road projects have been identified for upgrading
and rehabilitation to improve trade and transport within the district and
beyond with Katine Kalaki Ochero Road  already funded and ready for
construction. He also explained that the government is going to look for
money to construct Ochero Amolatar Road  to improve access to Lake
Kyoga landing sites.

He also explained that there has been a mistake from the Ministry of
works and Transport of not supervising and monitoring the roads.
“When roads are in good condition, farmers and traders can easily move
their goods. The Ministry of Works must supervise them well; roads must
be passable, even if they are marrum,” he added.

On water, President Museveni commended Kalaki District for achieving
significant progress under government support.

“Water coverage in Kalaki is now at 80.8%. The district has constructed
32 new boreholes, rehabilitated 22, and has two piped water systems
already operational,” he said.

The President also highlighted the ongoing Lake Kyoga Multi-Purpose
Gravity Flow Water Supply System, which he said will provide
sustainable clean water for both domestic and agricultural use across
the district.

He explained that development is the work of the government, while
wealth creation is the responsibility of individual households.
“In the 1960s, we disagreed with some leaders, even professors,
because they didn’t understand this difference. I tell you now — the road
is mine to build, but the wealth from that road is yours to create,” he told
the crowd.

President Museveni reminded local leaders of their accountability role.
“When we came into government, I insisted on having LC3s and LCVs
elected so that people can hold them accountable. If God gives you a
chance to guide people and you do it for selfish reasons, He is not
pleased,” he said.

On education, the President reiterated his commitment to free education
and skilling.

“From 1996, I started free education in government schools, but some
people refused to implement it properly. That’s why I started the Skilling
Hubs. You’ve seen these young people  after only six months of
training, they are now making products we used to import from China
and Italy. Let us stop killing our children with unnecessary school
charges,” he said.

He also reaffirmed his support for the creation of Otuboi County and
pledged to strengthen the fisheries sector with hatcheries to support fish
farming in the area.

On health, President Museveni promised to upgrade Kalaki Health
Centre IV to a General Hospital, and Ochelakur Health Centre II to a
Health Centre III, as well as construct new Health Centre IIIs in Kalaki,
Ogwolo, and Otuboi Sub-Counties to ensure equitable access to medical
services.

The President concluded by encouraging Ugandans to use their peace
and freedom productively.

“Yes, it is campaign time, but I am giving you knowledge that can help
you. Let us use the peace the NRM brought to create wealth,” he said.
Maama Janet thanked the people of Kalaki for turning up in large
numbers.

“There is no place like Uganda on earth, and there are no people who
hold peaceful elections like Ugandans. I thank God for using the NRM
and the President to bring peace. Every adult Ugandan has a
responsibility to protect this peace,” she said.

She also encouraged the citizens to vote for President Museveni and all
NRM candidates to consolidate the gains achieved under the Movement
government.

She hailed the Speaker of Parliament also NRM Second National Vice
Chairperson (Female), Rt. Hon. Anita Among for pointing out shoddy
work done by contractors who were constructing the Seed Schools in
Kalaki.

“When we fail to point out shoddy work, we cheat ourselves and the next
generation. When you are given government work, do it properly — you
are doing it for yourself and those who come after you,” she added.

Rt. Hon. Among, assured the people of Kalaki that the road from Katine
through Kalaki to Ochero will be worked on soon.
“Every town in Kalaki District will have at least 2.9 kilometres of tarmac,”
she said.

She requested the President to provide tractors to farmers in Kalaki to
ease agricultural work and praised Maama Janet for ensuring the
construction of seed secondary schools. She, however, called for close
supervision to ensure quality work.

The NRM Vice Chairperson for Eastern Uganda, Mr. Calvin Echodu, also
appealed to the President to fix the Katine–Kalaki–Ochero road, noting
its importance to trade and historical ties, as many people in the area
were recruited into the former FRONASA liberation force.

The Kalaki District NRM Chairperson, Mrs. Maria Gorret Ajilo, thanked
the President for visiting and reminded him that Kalaki is historically
significant in the NRM’s struggle, as he camped there in 1986.

She requested that Kalaki Health Centre IV be elevated to hospital
status and that the district be granted an additional constituency —
Otuboi.

Kalaki District, which now has 10 Sub-Counties, 34 Parishes, and 224
villages, has made notable progress under government programmes. It
has achieved 80.8% access to safe water, with 32 new boreholes
constructed, 22 rehabilitated, and two piped water systems operational.

Under the Parish Development Model, Kalaki has received Shs. 10.4
billion, benefiting 10,640 households — 34.9% of the district’s total.

In education, the district has 49 government primary schools and six
government secondary schools offering Universal Secondary Education
and Post-Ordinary Level Training. One new Seed Secondary School is
under construction, which will reduce the number of sub-counties without
government secondary schools from five to four.

In health, the government plans to upgrade and expand facilities across
the district, including new HCIIIs in underserved areas and improved
infrastructure for health workers.

Through the Emyooga programme, the government has disbursed Shs.
700 million to 18 SACCOs with 6,409 members, while under the cattle
compensation initiative, 807 claimants in Kalaki have received Shs. 5.27