Pader, Uganda: President Museveni has called on leaders to focus on developing essential infrastructure such as roads, power, water, health, and education before turning to other government programmes, saying these form the backbone of Uganda’s long-term economic transformation.
Speaking during his campaign rally at Pajule Primary School in Pader District, Museveni said that while many communities have competing needs, leaders must guide citizens to focus on projects that guarantee sustainable development and create a solid foundation for future prosperity.
“Before we talk about other things, let’s first ensure that we have the essentials — defense, health, roads, and education. Once we strengthen these, other programmes can follow,” Museveni said.
The President, who is also the NRM presidential flag bearer, emphasized the importance of prioritization in governance and development, reminding leaders that success requires focus and sacrifice — just as it did during Uganda’s liberation struggles in the 1970s and 1980s.
“When I was in exile fighting Amin, I had to prioritize the revolution and forget about my family. If you want to achieve anything meaningful, you must prioritize,” Museveni told the cheering crowd.
He hailed the progress achieved in northern Uganda, particularly in infrastructure and service delivery, noting that peace and development have replaced years of instability. The President cited improved road networks, increased access to electricity, and expanded safe water coverage as major milestones.
Museveni revealed that out of Pader’s 871 villages, 770 now have boreholes — giving 90% of residents access to safe drinking water. He also recalled that when the NRM came to power in 1986, Uganda had only 23,000 telephone lines, compared to over 18 million mobile connections today.
However, he expressed concern about poor road maintenance in some parts of the district and directed local authorities to keep drainage systems clear to prevent flooding and preserve the lifespan of roads.
On education, the President commended Pader District for having nine government secondary schools, six of which offer A-Level — a remarkable improvement from the 1960s when the Acholi sub-region had only a handful of schools.
Turning to household livelihoods, Museveni rallied Ugandans to embrace wealth creation and self-reliance through commercial agriculture, livestock farming, and innovation-driven enterprises.
He highlighted success stories of farmers who have adopted the four-acre model — an initiative that encourages farmers to maximize productivity by dividing small landholdings for diverse income sources.
“I met a man who produces 900 litres of milk per day. Even though the price is low, he earns about one million shillings a month — that’s 250 million a year. He has built a modern house and educated his children. That is how families can become prosperous,” Museveni said.
Under the four-acre model, Museveni explained, one acre is dedicated to coffee or another cash crop, one acre to fruit farming, one acre to pasture and zero-grazing dairy cows, and one acre to food crops or fish ponds. He said households following this approach can earn between UGX 70 million and UGX 100 million annually.
“This approach supports both income and food security. It’s how families can move out of poverty,” he said.
Museveni further encouraged citizens to use available natural resources wisely, adopting solar energy, livestock farming, and small-scale industries, as part of their contribution to the national development agenda. “By the time government support reaches you, you should have already done something for yourself. Use your land well, even four acres can make you rich,” he advised.
He commended farmers in Pader and Amuru who are benefiting from the Parish Development Model (PDM) through ventures such as coffee growing, banana cultivation, livestock rearing, and fish farming, saying such initiatives will help eliminate household poverty.
“When people are busy farming, producing, and earning, poverty will disappear from Uganda,” the President said.
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