President Yoweri Museveni has called on the leadership of Karamoja sub-region to always guide their people on issues pertaining to wildlife conservation, bad human settlement and the development of their areas by, among other things, adopting modern commercial farming.
“Please let’s not de-campaign conservation. We should balance it with commercial agriculture because we need both. Conservation is very important for Karamoja. You are lucky you have the 3rd biggest National Park in Uganda after Murchison and Queen Elizabeth National Parks. It is a gold mine,” he stressed.
The President, who is on a working visit to Karamoja Sub-Region, was meeting the leaders of the 7 districts that constitute Karamoja Sub-Region, that included Members of Parliament, RDCs, CAOs and LC 5 Chairpersons at his residence yesterday in Morulinga, Kangole Sub-county – Bokora County in Napak district. The districts that constitute the Sub-Region include Moroto, Napak, Nakapiripirit, Kaabong, Amudat, Abim and Kotido. Total population is estimated well over 1 million.
President Museveni noted that the gazetting of the National Parks was done during the colonial era and subsequent governments, whose leaders were not on the ground. This, he said, generated many distortions. He, however, strongly pledged to find a solution for areas affected especially the wildlife corridor issue in Napore County of Kaabong district.
Mr. Museveni also advised leaders to sensitize the people of Karamoja to avoid bad human settlements that leads to the negative aspect of fragmenting land. He said, families should learn to form companies where shares are allocated to family members who will distribute what accrues from the land on the basis of shares each member holds.
“Now that we have peace here in Karamoja in particular and Uganda in general, you leaders must teach people, show them the way but not just follow them,” he counseled.
President Museveni assured leaders of Karamoja Sub-Region of NRM government’s commitment to extend electricity to areas of Kotido, Kaabong districts up to Kidepo National Park and also extend the Opuyo electricity line from Soroti to Matany.
On the question of tsetse flies in the area, Mr. Museveni pledged to provide the people of Karamoja with decatex chemicals that will be sprayed on the cows to kill tsetse flies when they bite cattle.
Earlier, President Museveni thanked all those who supported the disarmament exercise in Karamoja adding that the debate with some pessimists on the issue is now a closed chapter. He noted that the exercise was very successful and has now ushered in peace to the region.
The Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Mrs. Janet Museveni, strongly advised the leadership of Karamoja to work selflessly for the development of their areas and the nation at large for the benefit of the future generations.
“Don’t do work for campaign for votes. We are building the nation for the next generations. We leave our legacy and our children will come and live a better life. This is a time to serve our people,” she stressed.