Museveni hails First Lady for offering to work in Karamoja

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President Yoweri Museveni has hailed the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs Janet Museveni, for volunteering to work in the Karamoja sub-region that faced years of insecurity. 

“She (Janet) is the one who volunteered to come to Karamoja; another minister (Tom Butime) whom I had appointed had declined,” the President told a mammoth crowd at Matany town council grounds in Napak district on October 30, 2025. 

“That person said the appointment to Karamoja was a demotion, but Maama volunteered to come and she made a big contribution,” Museveni said.

Butime, a retired colonel and now minister of tourism, wildlife and antiquities, rejected the appointment as state minister for Karamoja Affairs in June 2006.

“That was a pure and simple demotion,” he was later quoted as having said in an extensive interview with one of the local newspapers in July 2010.

The President noted that the First Lady’s major contribution was in the area of water, including the construction of dams, and in food security.

“When she was here, Karamoja was beginning to sell food to Mbale. Now, when she was here, some of the dams finished were Arechek Earth Dam (2.1 billion litres) and Nakumama Valley Tank (40 million litres). Now, we are planning (the construction of) Lopei Multipurpose Dam (135 billion litres),” he stated.

Lopei Multipurpose Dam is seen as a transformative regional project for irrigation, aquaculture, and rural industry.

Mrs Museveni served as the Minister for Karamoja Affairs from May 2011 to June 2016. 

She has thanked Speaker of Parliament Anita Among the previous day in Nakapiripirit district for always recognising her humble contribution to Karamoja.

Mrs Museveni noted that during the time she served as Karamoja Affairs minister, people would say that it is only in Uganda where a First Lady can serve in an area like Karamoja.

"But it was a blessing to me and to the people of Karamoja," she said.

The First Lady, who accompanied the President on the campaign trail, thanked the people of Napak for supporting NRM.

“God has used this President and the NRM government to bring peace to Karamoja and the whole country. So, all Ugandan adults have a responsibility to protect this peace and unity for the continuation of the development of Uganda," she said.

She said this is why the NRM manifesto for the 2026-2031 says they are to protect the gains and take a qualitative leap to the transformation of Uganda.

"So, please, remember that we all have a responsibility to vote for this President and all the NRM leaders so that God can build on what we do to transform Uganda for the good of all of us," she said, asking God to bless Napak, Karamoja and the whole country.