As President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni prepares to visit Adjumani District, residents and leaders are gearing up to receive him not just as a Head of State but in their words, “as a father coming home.”
According to Jesca Ababiku, the Woman Member of Parliament for Adjumani District and NRM flag bearer, the President’s visit symbolizes the transformation that the Madi sub-region has experienced under his leadership since 1986.
“For us, his visit is not only a campaign; our father is coming home. The Madi sub-region has really transformed from the time the President came into office,” Ababiku said. “We used to have only Moyo District, but today we have Adjumani and Obongi, with a growing population and improved services.”
Ababiku recalled that in the past, Adjumani was a remote and cut-off area where even the concept of a tarmacked road was almost mythical.
“Our children used to learn about tarmac roads in class, but they had never seen one. Today, it is a reality. We have electricity, hospitals, schools and better roads. The progress is visible,” she said.
The completion of key infrastructure such as the Laropi–Adjumani–Atiak road has opened up trade and mobility, with several local transport and bus companies now operating profitably in the district.
“Where people once struggled to move goods, now buses and trucks travel freely. This road has given life to business,” Ababiku noted.
Residents credit the peace ushered in after the 1986 liberation for enabling development to take root.
“Before President Museveni came to power, insecurity was a nightmare. We were refugees in South Sudan. He brought us back home and gave us peace,” Ababiku added. “We don’t want anything to disturb that peace again.”
For Amkol Hamid Taban, a local resident and business Lady, the stability has not only improved trade but also drawn investors from outside the district.
“Because of the good road, business people from other countries are coming here. I was born and raised in peace, and I pray it continues,” she said.
Ababiku revealed that government has already prioritized the construction of the Laropi Bridge to connect Adjumani and Moyo to the greater West Nile and Acholi sub-regions.
“The project was approved in 2020, and additional funding has been secured. Once tendering is complete, construction will start. We are also requesting for a bridge at Sinyanya to ease access to Obongi,” she said.
The MP emphasized that such infrastructure will further integrate Madi sub-region into the national economy and consolidate the development gains of recent years.
As political campaigns gain momentum, Ababiku expressed confidence that Adjumani remains a stronghold for the ruling National Resistance Movement.
“This is not just about politics; it is about trust. The one who picked us from where we were and brought us to where we are is the one we still believe can take us forward,” she said.
She added that the district is ready to deliver an even higher percentage of votes for President Museveni in the upcoming elections.
“We scored in the 70s last time, but now we want to go into the 90s. Adjumani is yellow,” she declared.
As the region prepares to welcome the President, the prevailing sentiment among residents and leaders alike is one of gratitude and optimism that peace, unity and development will continue to shape the future of Madi sub-region.
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