“Stand United With NRM For More Development” Presindent Museveni Urged Arua Residents

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, also the National Resistance
Movement (NRM) Presidential flag bearer, has today urged the people of
Arua to continue supporting the ruling party, highlighting the party’s role
in bringing peace, unity, and development to the region.

Accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports,
Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, the President made the remarks
during a campaign rally at Arua City Golf Course, Arua City.

The campaign is running under the theme: “Protecting the Gains,
Making a Qualitative Leap into High Middle-Income Status”.
President Museveni emphasized the tangible progress in education,
health, infrastructure, and economic empowerment in Arua District and
Arua City.

“In Arua District and Arua City there are a total of 120 government
primary schools, the primary schools in Arua District are 50 and in Arua
City are 70. In Arua District, there are 7 government secondary schools,
and 9 in Arua City. For somebody who has been here for a long time,
when I see this, I am very happy,” President Museveni said.

“In 1961, I was at Ntare School and there were so many boys from West
Nile, they were coming to Ntare because there was no single A’ level
school in the home of Northern and Eastern Uganda. There were only

six A’ level schools in Uganda. So, when I see that in Arua City alone,
there are 9, I am very happy.”
On the challenges facing education, the President said:
“On the issue of education, the children in the Presidential Zonal Skilling
Hubs are giving testimonies on how their lives had been ruined.

They had left school because of the school charges. So when I started the
skilling hubs, they came to study for free. They are now producing good
products and skills like shoemaking, metal work, carpentry, building, all
just in six months and I teach them for free.”

He made an appeal: “So I want to appeal to the NRM fraternity, in the
next government, let’s get rid of school charges in government schools.
They have been talking about the shortage of government teachers. We
shall increase the teachers by 50,000 so that there is no shortage of
teachers, and there is no reason for charging money.

That’s why we should emphasize day schools, one primary school per parish, one secondary school per sub-county, so that children study and go home.”
On health, the President announced that the NRM’s plan in the next
government is to upgrade Orivu Health Centre III to a Health Centre IV
in Ayivu Division East, and to upgrade Lazebu Health Centre II to a
Health Centre III in Arivu Sub-County.
President Museveni further stressed the importance of income
generation and local production.

“If you don’t have income in your homes, you are causing problems for
your family but also for your country because the government gets taxes
from what you buy. When you have no money, you are not contributing
to your family and to your nation,” he said.

“Government jobs are only 480,000. Factories alone have created 1.2
million jobs. I really feel sorry for Africa when people call themselves
leaders just talking. When you produce a good, who buys what you
produce? The internal market is not enough. That’s why the NRM says:
let’s have Uganda unite maximally.

When I produce milk in Mbarara, Iam happy when the people of Arua buy it, so we need a broader market of Uganda, East Africa, and Africa.”
The President concluded the rally by handing party flags to NRM flag
bearers for Members of Parliament.

President Museveni also welcomed 300 new party members who were
introduced by Mr. Lawrence Dangote, the NRM flag bearer for the
mayorship of Arua City.
On her part, the First Lady urged the people of Arua to remain patriotic
and support the National Resistance Movement in the upcoming
elections.
“Thank you for being patriots, for being strong nationalists, for being
people who love their homeland, for never forgetting where we have
come from, because NRM is a party of the people, for the people of
Uganda. Thank you for realizing that and really sticking with NRM,” she
said

Maama Janet emphasized the need for deliberate action to ensure
Uganda continues to grow.
“It is important to be deliberate in everything we are doing so that
Uganda can grow from strength to strength as a country. The world has
got used to thinking that African countries are weak and confused, that’s

why many countries go abroad. But by God’s grace, we shall ensure that
Uganda grows from strength to strength.”
She reminded citizens of their responsibility on voting day.
“Therefore, ensure that no one in your village stays in your house on
voting day, and make it your responsibility to ensure that all votes go to
NRM. Please know that your vote is for your family, for your children,
and for Uganda’s peace. Therefore, vote for President Museveni and for
the NRM. Line up with your leaders in your areas.”
Maama Janet concluded by thanking Arua residents for their loyalty.
“I thank you so much that you have refused to forget. Remember, you
have a responsibility to ensure that NRM gets all votes of Arua and vote
for Museveni to end the whole line of NRM. I thank you, Arua. God bless
you.”
Ms. Joyce Amaguru, Arua City NRM Party Chairperson, highlighted the
President’s role in transforming the city.
“We are grateful, President, for giving us this city, Your Excellency. We
are going to talk about the huge many achievements. Thank you for the
peace; if you see many people here today, we are grateful to you for
giving this peace. We are also grateful because you ushered health for
all. A lot of our health facilities have been upgraded, at the same time we
have free education for all and tarmacking has been done. Recently you
connected our region to the national grid. We have Adumi health
centers, and we are in the process of getting a heart and lung institute at
Muni University.”

On education, Amaguru noted significant progress in schools across
Arua.
“On the Education Sector in Arua District: There are 50 Government
primary schools with 64,668 pupils; 7 Government secondary schools
with 3,780 students. In Arua City: 70 Government primary schools with
110,136 pupils; 9 Government secondary schools with 4,616 students.

All schools offer Universal Secondary Education (USE) and UPOLET
programs. All this has happened because of your private sector
development, which is one of your developments.”
She also highlighted improvements in water and markets.

“In the water sector, we have 15% access to proper water in our
households. In the market sector, you helped us and funded, through
both government and private sector, the completion of the Ojipala
Market (Vurra). A special fund for the PDWs Sh65m and the elderly
received Sh20m.”
Amaguru appealed for additional support to improve service delivery and
pledged loyalty to the NRM.

“We can’t thank you enough, Your Excellency. We promise that as Arua
City we shall give you, our votes; you can expect 90%.”
The NRM Arua District Chairman, Mr. Arion Bonifance expressed his
gratitude to President Museveni while highlighting key infrastructure and
community needs.
Reflecting on his personal experience, Bonifance added: “I was born in
Congo, not because I didn’t want to be born in Uganda, but because of

the security situation at that time. So, we thank you so much, Your
Excellency, for the love that you have given us.”
The event was also graced by NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC)
members, Members of Parliament, religious and cultural leaders, as well
as thousands of supporters.