By Our Staff Reporter

Adjumani, Uganda | September 16, 2026
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on voters in Adjumani West County to unite behind National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag bearer James Pilli Leku ahead of Thursday’s parliamentary by-election.

President Museveni made the call on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, while campaigning for Leku at Padiri Stadium in Adjumani Town Council.

The President arrived in Adjumani 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,” President Museveni told the gathering, while thanking supporters and those who had backed Leku.

President Museveni welcomed the decision by former candidate Ben Anyama to withdraw from the race and support Leku, describing the move as an opportunity to promote peace and unity among the people of Adjumani.

He appealed to both NRM supporters and supporters of other candidates to work together and 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,” he said.

Museveni said Leku had worked closely with the NRM and urged voters to elect him, saying this would enable him to coordinate effectively with government programmes.

During the rally, President Museveni also highlighted government investments in infrastructure and social services in West Nile, particularly road construction.

He said improved roads had strengthened connectivity between different parts of the country and the region.

“Instead of war, we now have tarmacked roads from Kampala to Nimule,” Museveni said.

He cited the Laropi–Moyo road, the Laropi Bridge and other road links in the region as projects requiring continued government attention. He also mentioned the upgrading of the Nebbi–Gulu road.

The President also pointed to the expansion of electricity access in Adjumani and other parts of the country.

“We now have electricity all the way from Adjumani, and from Lira–Pakwach–Arua to Koboko districts,” he said.

Despite highlighting infrastructure achievements, President Museveni cautioned residents against measuring development only through roads, schools, health centres and electricity.

He urged households to focus more on income generation and wealth creation.

“There is a difference between development and wealth,” he said.

Museveni argued that while infrastructure benefits entire communities, households must also become economically stronger.

He called for greater investment in the Parish Development Model (PDM), saying the programme was designed to help households participate in economic activities and improve their incomes.

“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 said.

He cited households struggling to afford basic necessities as an indication of the need to strengthen household incomes.

Museveni also spoke about the expansion of education infrastructure in Adjumani.

Recalling his school days, he said Adjumani had very few secondary schools at the time, compared with the number available today.

“In 1961, I went to Ntare School, and we had a boy from Adjumani. Not a single A-Level secondary school was here by that time. We had only six secondary schools in Uganda by that time, but we now have 11 secondary schools in Adjumani District,” he said.

The campaign rally also saw a group of opposition politicians and supporters announce their move to the NRM.

NRM Vice Chairperson for Northern Region Hon. Dennis Hamson Obua presented the group, which included members and supporters associated with the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and the National Unity Platform (NUP).

The FDC group was led by Patrick Tandrupasi, who withdrew his candidature in the Adjumani West parliamentary race and declared support for the NRM candidate.

NRM Secretary General Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong said the defections reflected what he described as the growing strength of the NRM in the West Nile sub-region.

Todwong also commended the peaceful coexistence between refugees and host communities in Adjumani District, noting that the two populations are almost equal in size.

He urged political leaders and their supporters to maintain discipline and mutual respect during the electoral period and support James Pilli Leku.

The NRM Chairman for Adjumani District, Akuku Charles Anzo, commended President Museveni for what he described as the peace and security prevailing in the country.

Akuku urged residents to embrace government wealth-creation programmes and asked the President to support the construction of Laropi Bridge.

He also appealed to the government to consider upgrading Adjumani Town Council to municipal status.

Earlier, Ben Anyama announced his withdrawal from the parliamentary race and called on residents to remain united.

The Adjumani West County parliamentary by-election is scheduled for September 17, 2026, following the death of former MP Gen. Moses Ali.

The campaign rally was attended by Members of Parliament, religious and cultural leaders, NRM supporters and residents from across Adjumani.

The election will determine the new Member of Parliament for Adjumani West County.