By Alexander Mackey Okori
There is heightened security in Kotido town ahead of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party presidential candidate and incumbent President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni visit for his campaigns ahead of 2026 general elections.
Museveni, who is currently traversing the Karamoja Sub-region soliciting for votes ahead of 2026 general elections is expected to address a rally at Lomukura primary school playground this morning before proceeding to Moroto District in the afternoon.
The armed personnel comprising the Field Force Unit (FFU, Special Forces Command (SFC) Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF), Anti Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) and the police have been patrolling the town since Friday.
The deployment, according to one of the commanders who preferred anonymity, is aimed at ensuring security during the president’s rally.
John Magezi Lukooki, the Kotido deputy RDC, who is the publicity secretary of the organising committee for the president’s visit, said that the issue of valley dams, health, education, roads, and electricity are among the issues they will table before the president.
Speaking at Lomukura primary school playground in December, last year during his wealth creation and Parish Development Model (PDM) performance assessment tour in Karamoja, Museveni promised to construct two dams per sub-county.
This he said would help mitigate water scarcity that often forces pastoralists to trek long distances, however, since nothing has been done.
Cue DRDC Kotido Magezi eng
Museveni, who is the third longest-serving president in Africa, is battling seven other candidates to retain his seat for the next five more years.
Among other presidential candidates are James Nathan Nandala Mafabi (FDC), Robert Kyagulanyi (NUP), Gregory Mugisha Muntu Oyera of Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), Mubaraka Munyagwa Sserunga (Common Man’s Party – CMP), Frank Kabinga Bulira of Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP) and Joseph Mabirizi (Conservative Party-DP).
