President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate, has confirmed plans to tarmac two new major roads passing through Katakwi District, the Soroti–Amuria–Lira and Lira–Toloma roads as part of efforts to boost transport and trade in the Teso sub-region.
Speaking during his presidential campaign rally at Booma Grounds in Katakwi on Saturday, President Museveni said the infrastructure projects are part of the NRM government’s commitment to improving road networks to enhance the movement of goods and services.
He emphasized that scaling up infrastructure and economic development in Katakwi aligns with the NRM Manifesto, adding that better roads would attract investment and open up rural communities to new opportunities.
Museveni also criticized local government leaders who tolerate shoddy work in road maintenance projects, despite the government allocating Shs 1.3 billion annually for road repairs in districts.
Water and Irrigation Projects
The President assured residents of Katakwi that his government will extend water supply to more villages in his next term. He cited several ongoing and completed projects, including:
Construction of Angule Small Scale Irrigation Project in Toroma Sub-county.
Installation of new boreholes in 208 villages and extension of piped water to small towns.
Completion of Ongongoja and Ongole Small Scale Irrigation Systems, as well as Ngarium Flood Mitigation Valley Tank in Aleles Village, Palam Sub-county, which has a 49-million-litre capacity.
Additional 30-million-litre flood mitigation tanks in Magoro and Okuronyo sub-counties.
Currently, 342 out of 550 villages in Katakwi District have access to safe and clean water, and Museveni pledged to increase that coverage further.
Education and Skilling
President Museveni urged NRM leaders in Katakwi to enforce universal education in government schools and end the practice of charging learners illegal fees.
He cited the success of the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs, which have empowered school dropouts with vocational skills, and promised to expand such initiatives.
He further announced plans to construct more primary and secondary schools, adding to the existing 78 government primary schools and 10 government secondary schools in Katakwi District.
Health Sector Upgrades
Museveni also outlined health infrastructure upgrades, promising to elevate several health centers from HCII to HCIII, including:
Aakum (Guyaguya Sub-county)
Omodoi (Omodoi Sub-county)
Opeta (Magoro Sub-county)
Okocho (Okulonyo Sub-county)
Akurao (Toroma Sub-county)
Ongongoja (Ongongoja Sub-county)
Additionally, new HCIIIs will be constructed in Amusia, Getom, Okore, and Angodingod sub-counties. The government is also constructing theatres at Toroma HCIV, Akurao HCII, and Katakwi General Hospital, alongside a solar motorized borehole at Koritok HCIII.
Museveni said these interventions are meant to strengthen the district’s health system and improve access to quality healthcare.
Cattle Restocking and Compensation
The President also announced a cattle restocking plan for Teso, Acholi, and Lango sub-regions, aimed at compensating families who lost livestock during insurgencies by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and raids by Karimojong rustlers.
He urged residents of Katakwi to take advantage of the initiative, noting that an earlier phase of compensation had been delayed due to legal irregularities in which UGX 159 billion was misappropriated by private lawyers.
Museveni concluded by highlighting the success of government programs such as Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga, encouraging Katakwi residents to embrace them for household income growth.
