“Peace Brought Development; Disturb It at Your Own Risk,” Museveni Warns

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reiterated that peace remains the ruling National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) foremost and most enduring contribution to Uganda, stressing that all development achievements rest on the foundation of national stability.

Addressing residents in Lira City, President Museveni said Uganda’s progress in infrastructure, energy, and wealth creation would not have been possible without peace, cautioning that no individual or group should attempt to destabilize the country.

“Peace is the foundation of everything. Because of peace, development followed,” Museveni said. “In 1968, the Chinese offered to build Namboole Stadium, but there was no peace. Under NRM, Namboole was built, Akii Bua Stadium is now under construction here in Lira, and mega projects like Karuma Hydropower and oil development became possible.”

The President used the occasion to highlight the direct link between security and long-term investment, noting that instability in earlier decades blocked opportunities that are now being realized under NRM leadership.

Warning on Wetland Destruction

Museveni also issued a stern warning to communities in Lango, Teso, and Acholi against the continued destruction of wetlands, describing swamps as a “goldmine” for sustainable wealth creation.

“These wetlands are not useless. They are a goldmine for irrigation and fish farming,” he said, explaining that proper use of wetlands can deliver high yields even on small pieces of land.

He cited successful models such as Limoto, where fish farming is done along wetland edges while water supports crop production on surrounding dry land.

Wealth Creation Through Production

The President emphasized that environmental protection is central to the government’s broader wealth creation strategy, which includes the four-acre model, fish farming, and flagship programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM).

“Jobs and prosperity do not come from slogans. They come from production,” Museveni said, urging communities to embrace practical, income-generating activities rather than destructive land use.

He reiterated that protecting wetlands while engaging in productive agriculture aligns with NRM’s vision of inclusive growth, environmental sustainability, and long-term prosperity.