Share this article

President Yoweri Museveni urged Ugandans to continue supporting the National Resistance Movement (NRM) to sustain peace, development, and wealth creation. Speaking in Lira, he laid a wreath at the Barlonyo monument, commemorating victims of the 2004 LRA massacre, emphasizing that Uganda’s current peace is a result of strategic efforts, including defeating the LRA and ADF.

President Yoweri Museveni has asked Ugandans to continue backing the National Resistance Movement (NRM) so as to consolidate peace and enable the development and wealth creation path that the government is focusing on.

This was in the northern city of Lira, shortly after he laid a wreath at the Barlonyo monument of Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) victims

“I am happy to be here when there is peace now,” said Museveni.

“This peace is because of what we have all done as Uganda. In the past there were mistakes [bad politics of sectarianism hindered peace and stable governments]; that’s why there was no peace.”

The memorial site, also known as the Barlonyo Massacre site, is a mass grave where the 302 civilians who were massacred by the LRA in early 2004 were buried.

“I want you to know that the peace that is there now is because of the correct thing we did. That’s why [LRA leader] Joseph Kony and the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) were defeated and the Karimojong were disarmed. That’s how we have reached here.

The health facility is a presidential pledge Museveni made together with the Barlonyo Agro-Technical Institute, which is already in place, with the hope of turning it into an agricultural college.

A bridge named after him (Kaguta) that connects Lira to Otuke, Pader, and Abim districts is also complete.

Previously, residents of Barlonyo and its surrounding areas trekked almost 10 kilometres to Ogur Health Centre IV in the quest for medical services.

The President reiterated his call for everybody to get involved in wealth creation to drive poverty out of their homes.

“I always educate our people that development is for all of us, but poverty is personal.

“You have come here in the public meeting; the poverty is still there at home, and when you go back after the meeting, the poverty will warmly welcome you, saying: ‘You left me here and I’m still here’.

“Kampala has got good tarmac roads and electricity, but you still find poor people in Kampala. That is why we say create wealth in your home.”

The Ugandan President encouraged the people to make use of the Parish Development Model (PDM) and practice the seven activities under the four-acre model of the 1996 NRM Manifesto.

They are: coffee, fruits, dairy cattle, food for the family such as cassava, piggery, poultry for eggs, and fish farming.

He promised to study the benefits of sunflower and simsim, which are widely grown in Lango sub-region.

The President donated sh100 million to the SACCOs of the chairpersons and the veterans.

On his part, the government Chief Whip Denis Hamson Obua, on behalf of leaders in the Lango sub-region, expressed gratitude to President Museveni for dedicating four days to tour the districts in Lango while spreading the message of wealth creation.

The Minister of State for Northern Uganda, Kenneth Omona, said his ministry is in advanced stages of compensating the families and victims affected by the LRA insurgencies.

These groups had taken the government to court but later withdrew the case after assurance of payment from the government.

The verification exercise conducted by the resident district commissioner verified 973 people who were killed in the massacre, and the Attorney General guided that the government should compensate them with sh20 million each, which totals to sh19.64 billion.

“The matter was referred to my office, and we are waiting for the guidance from the Ministry of Finance on whether we should have a supplementary budget or whether it should be catered for under the Ministry of Northern Uganda and rehabilitation,” said Omona.

He told the President that after the war, the region is now focused on fighting poverty.

Erute North MP Christine Akello thanked Museveni for visiting the memorial site and for fulfilling his pledges.

“It was not going to be right if you did not step foot in Barlonyo. You came here in 2004, the time when the people in Barlonyo were in darkness and sorrow, but today we welcome you with tears of joy,” she said. “Thank you for fulfilling your pledge of a health centre in this area.”

Akello said the tourism ministry is working with Lira to support the Barlonyo Memorial Site and upgrade it to a national museum.

Museveni, who has been touring Lango sub-region since Tuesday, visited several farmers, mostly beneficiaries of the PDM, a government initiative aimed at economic transformation at the parish level.