Museveni and Acholi opposition leaders agree to unite against poverty

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni recently held a meeting with opposition leaders from the Acholi sub-region, where they agreed to set aside political differences and work together to reduce poverty and promote development. The meeting, held at State House in Entebbe, marked an important step toward unity and cooperation.

During the discussions, Museveni highlighted Uganda’s history, emphasizing the need for unity to achieve long-term development. He recalled how the fall of Idi Amin’s regime in 1979 led to the unfair treatment of West Nile residents, forcing many into exile in Congo and South Sudan.

“The focus should therefore have been on reconciliation, not revenge,” Museveni said.

Museveni stressed the importance of fighting poverty and noted that the Parish Development Model (PDM) is the government’s strategy for achieving economic growth. However, he acknowledged that funding large parishes with only Shs 100 million is not enough.

“A parish with 20,000 households cannot be transformed with just Shs 100 million. We must rethink how we support these parishes according to their different numbers,” he noted.

The president also spoke about education, advocating for the establishment of seed secondary schools in every sub-county to make schooling more accessible.

“The only way to provide mass education is through day schools. If we concentrate on building a seed secondary school per sub-county, we can reach more children,” he said.

Additionally, Museveni emphasized the importance of preventive healthcare, saying that it is more cost-effective than treating diseases.

“Curative health is expensive. If we focus on prevention through immunization, clean water, and lifestyle changes, we can eliminate 80% of illnesses,” he said.

Reflecting on the history of the national army, Museveni explained that their success was built on sacrifice, not high salaries.

“When we fought Amin, Nyerere gave us guns and food, but no money. Even after 1986, soldiers were paid little or nothing because the priority was securing the country first,” he said.

Okin Ojara, the Member of Parliament for Chua West County and a member of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), led the opposition delegation. While presenting their memorandum, he confirmed that Acholi leaders were ready to work together for the region’s development.

“We may belong to different political parties, but our focus is on fighting poverty and driving socio-economic transformation in Acholi,” the leaders stated.

Ojara revealed that 10 opposition MPs from Acholi have formed ‘Operation Harmony,’ a platform where they can work together despite their political affiliations.

“We are 10 leaders from different political shades, but we came together to think, brainstorm, and prioritize the pride and prosperity of our people,” Ojara said.

He explained that they had reflected on whether staying in opposition was beneficial for their people.

“We asked ourselves tough questions: Why are we in opposition? Should we remain in opposition while our people continue to suffer? How long should we stay in opposition when Acholi is one of the poorest regions in the country? Are we leading our people to poverty or prosperity?” he wondered.

Ojara stated that these reflections pushed them to engage the government directly.

“We decided to package our ideas into this memorandum and present it to you because we want to work with you for the socio-economic transformation of Acholi,” he said.

The opposition leaders called for the creation of a Transitional Justice Framework to help the Acholi people heal from past conflicts.

“The conflict disturbed the software of our people. A recent survey revealed high levels of mental health issues and post-traumatic stress disorders in Acholi. Some children are even suffering from nodding disease,” Ojara noted.

To help address these issues, they proposed the establishment of a mental rehabilitation center at Gulu Regional Hospital.

“We need clarity on who has been compensated, how much has been spent, and how long this process will take. If necessary, a new framework should be established to ensure fair and timely compensation,” Ojara said.

The MPs also expressed concern about Acholi refugees still living in Zambia, DRC, and Kenya, despite peace returning to their homeland.

“We propose creating a mechanism to engage these refugees, inform them about the peace and stability we now have, and encourage their return home,” Ojara added.

The memorandum also focused on healthcare and infrastructure development. The MPs requested the upgrading of Kitgum General Hospital to a Regional Referral Hospital and the construction of new hospitals in Omoro and Amuru districts. They also called for better roads to improve access to services and markets.

The leaders highlighted Museveni’s strategy of increasing productivity by focusing on factors of production, knowledge, and markets.

“We analyzed how to apply ‘Musevenomics’ in Acholi, combining it with the Four Acre Model to promote commercial farming. We want to focus on perennial crops like coffee, cocoa, and fruits,” Ojara explained.

They commended the Gulu Presidential Skilling Hub but requested more centers across the region.

“Those who have trained at the Gulu Skilling Hub are now a model for others. We need more centers to empower our youth,” Ojara said.

Ojara pointed out that Acholi has over 600 parishes covering 28,000 square kilometers, yet each receives the same Shs 100 million under PDM.

“Given the vastness of our parishes, we request a special arrangement to increase funding for Acholi’s larger parishes so that PDM can be more impactful,” he urged.

Hillary Onek, the Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Refugees, echoed the call for unity among Acholi leaders. He encouraged them to work hand in hand with the government to improve the region’s development.

“We come as true leaders, united by a shared ideological vision and a commitment to the welfare of our people. One thing we all agree on is the president’s goodwill towards Acholi and his love for Uganda. This has given us the platform to come together, share ideas, and find a way forward,” he said.

Onek acknowledged the region’s struggles with poverty, poor infrastructure, and the impact of past conflicts.

“We recognize that some of the setbacks in Acholi have stemmed from political differences. That’s why we have resolved to work together, regardless of party affiliation, to support the government’s development agenda,” he stated.

The minister urged Acholi leaders to focus on unity and progress.

“We want Acholi to be different, to move beyond past divisions, and to focus on tangible solutions for our people. Our goal is to support every effort aimed at transforming the region,” he added.

Betty Aol Ocan, Woman MP for Gulu City and a member of FDC, also emphasized the importance of collective action to fight poverty. She acknowledged the region’s economic challenges despite government programs.

“As long as we all put the interests of the Acholi people first, why shouldn’t we work together? We must unite to find lasting solutions for poverty alleviation,” Aol said.

The meeting was attended by several government officials and Acholi MPs, including Dr. Kenneth Omona, Minister of State for Northern Uganda, Gen. David Muhoozi, Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Richard Todwong, NRM Secretary General, and several opposition and ruling party MPs from Acholi.