President Yoweri Museveni has praised women in Karamoja for their role in the government’s disarmament campaign, saying their support was critical in removing thousands of guns from communities.
Museveni made the remarks while joining residents of Karamoja to celebrate their cultural heritage and identity during the Karamoja Cultural Festival.
The President congratulated the people of Karamoja for holding the festival, describing it as an important platform for celebrating the region’s culture and identity.
He also thanked residents for what he described as their strong political support for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) during elections.
Museveni used the occasion to defend the government’s decision to disarm communities in the northeastern sub-region, arguing that the proliferation of firearms had contributed to killings and insecurity.
He said the campaign was necessary to restore peace and protect communities from violence associated with armed cattle raids and other conflicts.
“I reminded them that the disarmament of Karamoja was necessary because guns were bringing murder and insecurity,” Museveni said.
The President singled out women in Karamoja for recognition, saying they played a significant role in efforts to persuade communities to surrender illegal firearms.
He said more than 41,000 guns had been collected during the disarmament exercise, crediting women for supporting the government’s efforts.
“I especially thanked the women who supported us in collecting more than 41,000 guns,” he said.
Disarmament in Karamoja has remained a major security and governance issue, with successive government operations seeking to remove firearms from communities and curb armed violence.
The exercise has also generated debate over the methods used by security agencies and the need to balance security operations with protection of residents’ rights.
Museveni’s remarks come as the government continues to emphasise peace and stability as prerequisites for economic development in Karamoja.
The cultural festival provided an opportunity for the President to combine his security message with recognition of the region’s traditions and political support for the NRM.