President Museveni Pledges Electricity, Roads, Healthcare, and More for Obongi District During Campaign Rally

Obongi, Uganda – October 17, 2025 – In a spirited campaign rally at Lionga Boma Grounds in Obongi District, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the flag bearer for the National Resistance Movement (NRM), outlined a series of transformative promises aimed at addressing the long-standing challenges faced by the residents of this remote West Nile sub-region. The event, part of Museveni’s three-day tour to promote wealth creation initiatives, drew enthusiastic crowds as he committed to bringing electricity, improving roads, enhancing healthcare, and supporting agricultural mechanization to uplift the isolated district.

Obongi District, carved out of Moyo District in 2019 to better address its unique geographical and developmental needs, has long grappled with underdevelopment. With over 80% of its population living in rural areas and poverty levels at 62%—double the national average—the district remains one of Uganda’s most underserved. Residents primarily rely on subsistence farming, but poor infrastructure, including the absence of electricity and impassable roads during rainy seasons, has hindered progress. Museveni, reflecting on his first visit to the area in 1979, recalled witnessing the community’s isolation firsthand, which he said inspired efforts to grant Obongi district status and integrate it into national development plans.

During the rally, NRM Obongi Chairman Abibu Buga Khemis Awadi made a passionate plea on behalf of the residents, highlighting the district’s dire needs. He noted that Obongi is one of only two districts in Uganda without electricity (alongside Buvuma) and urged the extension of power lines. He also called for a bridge to connect Obongi to Adjumani, as the existing ferry has broken down, and requested government support for farmers through machines, tractors, seeds, and improved roads. Additionally, he raised concerns about the lack of health facilities and compensation for victims of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency led by Joseph Kony.

Responding directly to these appeals, President Museveni assured the crowd of imminent action. Key pledges include:

• Electricity Access: For the first time in its history, Obongi will be connected to the national grid, with funding secured through a World Bank loan. Museveni confirmed that procurement is underway, and the project will proceed without delays, promising to end the district’s reliance on outdated or non-existent power sources. He explained past delays due to low regional demand but highlighted the upcoming Nyagak power station, set to generate 2 MW by November 2025, as a short-term boost, followed by a high-voltage 400 KV line from Karuma.
• Road Infrastructure: Museveni committed to upgrading the district’s road network to combat isolation. This includes tarmacking the route from Pakwach through Rhino Camp and Obongi to Rifule, ensuring year-round accessibility. He urged local engineers to maintain existing marram roads in the interim and addressed calls for a bridge, emphasizing broader connectivity efforts.
• Healthcare Improvements: Recognizing gaps in services—where only one sub-county has a Health Centre IV, three have Health Centre IIIs, and two have none—Museveni promised to construct additional Health Centre IIIs and a full district hospital in his next term.
• Education and Skilling: While touring the St. Martin Comboni Missionaries skilling center in Palorinya sub-county, Museveni praised their programs in tailoring, carpentry, oil processing, bakery, and agriculture. He pledged government support to expand these youth skilling initiatives, which benefit both local residents and South Sudanese refugees, aligning with efforts to increase school access and vocational training.
• Agricultural Support and Wealth Creation: To boost farming, Museveni promised a tractor for the district to aid in road construction and mechanization, along with equipment for fish farming— including digging ponds that could generate over 100 million shillings per acre. He encouraged residents to utilize the Parish Development Model for household-level ventures, distinguishing it from large-scale government projects, and visited a local farmer’s 15-acre demonstration farm to showcase successful cassava, mango, and banana cultivation as a model for others.

Museveni tied these developments to the NRM’s “good politics” of peace, non-sectarianism, and inclusive growth, contrasting it with pre-1986 failures that led to instability. He urged voters to support NRM candidates in the upcoming 2026 elections to ensure continuity of these projects, warning against opposition parties he accused of promoting division.

The rally, marked by ululations and cheers, underscores Obongi’s pivotal role in West Nile’s development narrative. As one of Uganda’s newest districts, these pledges could mark a turning point, fostering economic integration and reducing poverty in this border region near South Sudan.

By Barbara Nabukenya