President Museveni spent the better half of Thursday afternoon in Pader district in Acholi sub-region where he combed for votes for yet another term in office.
Museveni, who arrived at Pajule Primary School grounds in Pajule town council in Pader district at around mid-day was welcomed by party officials led by the vice chairperson in charge of Northern Uganda, Hamson Obua Secretary General, Ricahrd Todwong and party flag bearers.
The NRM district chairperson , Lawila Otekayot presented a memorandum highlighting key issues she said the area wants President Museveni to address in the next term of office.
"We thank you for the wealth creation drive but I want to assure you that PDM is taking root here and we have so many success stories. However, out of the 97 parishes, there are some two in Acholibur which haven't been gazetted and not receiving PDM cash. We ask that they are considered," Otekayot said.
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She asked Museveni to consider upgrading Pajule health centre IV into a district hospital but also help in dealing with the problem of nodding disease syndrome.
"The problem of nodding syndrome still exists. The problem still persists and we have about 1300 cases and of these 562 are severe."
She said the then Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary, Dr.Asuman Lukwago had suggested that Atanga health centre III be upgraded to health centre IV and be specifically dedicated to deal with nodding diseases syndrome cases.
The NRM chairman for Pader also asked Museveni to expedite the tarmacking of the Puranga-Acholibur road section which is part of the larger Rwenkune-Apac- Lira-Puranga- Acholibur road upgrade.
She also asked for tractors for help in mechanisation of agriculture in the district .
Speaking in response, President Museveni said everything can be done but noted there is a problem of lack of poor planning by leaders who want government to do all at once.
"The bush fighters believe in doing things step by step but some of our colleagues touch many things. They want to do this and that. They want new districts and salaries for public servants at the same time . All that takes money but if they were listening to me, I would say they concentrate on five things first defence, railway, electricity, roads and education .The other things can wait. They want us to do them at the same time but end up scattering. That's why we end up doing some roads and then for Puranga- Acholibur we say, wait. It is because we touch here and there and touching many things at a time we end up not finishing," Museveni said.
He called for prioritization.
"As a soldier I was without salary and when I got it, it was little but you come to our weapons they are nice. We put money on the teeth so we can bite, not on the tail. We can't have a long tail and small teeth. Even the barracks we haven't been having them. Low pay, no barracks, no vehicles for individual officers we just share but we are able to defend the country because we prioritise weapons."
He told the crowd at Pajule Primary School that despite is kind of environment where leaders want to do unsystematic work, government has been able to deal with a number of issues, noting that roads have been constructed.
"We have been able to open the main arteries in the north. The road from Karuma to Gulu to Atiak to Nimule, the road from Oluyo to Anaka- Koch Goma to Gulu, Hatanga, Acholibur among others have also been done. The one from Rwenkunyu to Puranga and from Puranga to Acholibur will also be done."
"My criticism is our leaders for doing many things at the same time. Our people should understand that step by step is good Leaders and population should know this. When you put pressure on leaders they touch here and there and end up not doing good work"
He however urged districts to maintain the tarmac and murram roads in good condition so they can last longer.
"If it is tarmac maintain it and don't allow it to deteriorate. If it is murram also maintain it as murram . I see carelessness in the murram roads. In Lamwo I drove for about 10km and realised they had graded the road but had not made drainage channels. Even here they have done the same. When it rains, all water remains on the road and it is like a swimming pool. Your road engineers should be told they are doing things carelessly."
New health facilities
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Museveni told the gathering that government is currently constructing new health centre IIIs in Tenam and Pukor sub counties while another one to be constructed in Lunyiri sub county.
"We are going to upgrade Latanya health centre II to health centre III, Latigi health centre II to health cente III, also upgrade Oryang health cente II, upgrade Amilobo health cente II, upgrade Paiula health centre II , construct an outpatient department at Team, another one at Pukor and also construct a medicine store at Pajule health centre IV."
He also said government is to ensure every sub county has a secondary government school while each parish will have a government primary school.
"These are part of the plan. These are all to do with development."
He however urged the population not to get lost in roads and development but create their own wealth.
"It is very crucial for our supporters to be clear about development and wealth creation. We are going to intensify this program of PDM in the coming government once you support us."
