Museveni to Pardon Arrested Karamoja Youths

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has pledged to review the possibility of pardoning young people in Karamoja detained over cattle rustling and illegal gun possession.

“I’m going to study the issue of pardoning these young people. I will discuss it with the army. I did not know that so many young people were involved,” Museveni said on Thursday, December 5, 2024, while addressing a rally in Kotido Municipality.

The request for amnesty was raised by Peter Abrahams Lokii, the Member of Parliament for Kotido Municipality, who noted that many mothers had been appealing for their children’s release.

The President’s remarks came as he concluded a three-day tour of Karamoja, where he assessed the performance of the Parish Development Model (PDM) and wealth creation initiatives.

Population Growth and Development in Karamoja

President Museveni praised government interventions like peace and immunization for Karamoja's growing population. He contrasted the current situation with the past when diseases and insecurity hampered population growth.

“Peace and immunization have made a big difference. In the 1990s, Karamoja was sparsely populated. Today, it feels like I’m in Buganda or Western Uganda,” Museveni said.

He emphasized that peace, health, and water infrastructure are the foundation for sustainable development.

“We need big valley dams for both livestock and crop irrigation. Boreholes can help, but for the large numbers of cattle and irrigation needs, valley dams are essential,” he assured.

Strengthening Wealth Creation

The President urged Karamoja residents to embrace the PDM to eradicate poverty. He cited successful examples of farmers who had improved their incomes through government support.

“If you get Shs1 million, you can buy goats or cows. Each parish receives Shs100 million annually to uplift small-scale producers. You have no excuse for remaining in poverty,” Museveni said.

He distinguished between development, such as roads and schools, which benefit communities, and wealth creation, which directly benefits individuals.

“You can have wealth even in areas with little development. For instance, farmers in Abim and Amudat are thriving with livestock and other ventures despite minimal infrastructure,” he explained.

Education and Regional University Plans

President Museveni reiterated the government’s commitment to free education, emphasizing the need to eliminate fees in primary, secondary, and technical schools.

“Our goal is to enforce free education in government schools. UPE and USE were meant to be day schools to reduce costs, allowing the government to focus on paying teachers, setting up laboratories, and providing textbooks,” he stated.

He also affirmed plans to establish a university in Karamoja, aligning with the government’s initiative to set up higher learning institutions in all regions.

Political Support

During the rally, local leaders moved a motion endorsing President Museveni as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate in the 2026 elections. Vice President Jessica Alupo, alongside other government officials, attended the event.

The President’s commitment to address Karamoja’s challenges reflects his broader vision of peace, development, and economic empowerment for the region.