President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on voters in Adjumani West County to unite behind NRM flag bearer James Pilli Leku, saying political unity is important for peace, development and effective representation.
Museveni made the call while campaigning for Leku at Padiri Stadium in Adjumani Town Council, shortly after paying tribute to the late Gen. Moses Ali by laying a wreath at his grave at Taqwa Mosque.
“I’m here to beg you to support Leku because he is the one who will support NRM, and I thank all the others who have supported him.”
The President welcomed the decision by former candidate Ben Anyama to withdraw from the race and support Leku, describing it as a step towards promoting peace and unity in Adjumani.
He appealed to supporters of both the NRM and other candidates to rally behind the ruling party’s candidate.
“I ask my supporters and the supporters of other candidates, for the sake of peace and unity, to rally behind the NRM candidate and cooperate.”
During the rally, Museveni highlighted government investments in infrastructure and social services across West Nile, particularly road construction.
He cited the tarmacking of roads linking Kampala to Nimule, the Laropi–Moyo road, Laropi Bridge and other road links in the region, as well as the upgrading of the Nebbi–Gulu road.
“Instead of war, we now have tarmacked roads from Kampala to Nimule.”
Museveni also pointed to improvements in education infrastructure in Adjumani, recalling that the district had very few secondary schools during his school-going years.
He said the district now has 11 secondary schools, compared to the situation in the early 1960s.
The President further cited expanded access to electricity in Adjumani and other parts of the country as another area of government investment.
However, Museveni cautioned residents against measuring development solely through physical infrastructure.
He urged households to focus on wealth creation and improving their incomes through government programmes, particularly the Parish Development Model (PDM).
“There is a difference between development and wealth.”
Museveni explained that roads, schools, health centres and electricity benefit communities collectively, but individual households also need to become economically stronger.
“The tarmac road is for all of us, but development is for your house. Let’s divert some money from roads, schools and health centres to the Parish Development Model (PDM) because PDM addresses development.”
He pointed to households struggling to afford basic necessities as evidence of the need to strengthen household incomes.
NRM Vice Chairperson for Northern Region Hon. Dennis Hamson Obua also presented a group of opposition politicians and supporters who crossed to the ruling party ahead of the by-election.
The group included members of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and National Unity Platform (NUP).
Among them was Patrick Tandrupasi, who withdrew from the Adjumani West parliamentary race and declared his support for Leku.
NRM Secretary General Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong described the defections as a sign of the party’s growing strength in the West Nile sub-region.
Todwong also commended the coexistence between refugees and host communities in Adjumani, noting that the two populations are almost equal in size.
He urged political leaders to promote discipline and mutual respect among their supporters and rally behind Leku.
The campaign comes ahead of the Adjumani West County parliamentary by-election scheduled for September 17, 2026, following the death of Gen. Moses Ali.
Former candidate Anyama also called for unity after announcing his decision to support Leku.
The rally was attended by Members of Parliament, religious and cultural leaders, NRM supporters and residents from the area.
