By ALEX PITHUA

Northern Uganda Member of Parliament who represent interest for elderly persons, Katherine Mavenjina Akumu, has pleaded to the people of greater Nebbi, (Nebbi Zombo and Pakwach) to vote president Museveni amidst growing concern over what the community says is a deliberate intention not to tarmac a crucial national road in the area.

The road in question is the 122km Nebbi-Goli-Paidha-Padea-Zombo-Warr-Vura road, that links a number of revenue generating one stop border points of Goli, Padea and Vurra in Arua district respectively.

In a sideline interview with our journalist, after Mavenjina won the NRM Party’s race as chairperson for elderly persons in Paidha town council at Bar Okoro stadium on Friday 16th 2025, the seasoned politician begged the voters including opposition members to elect president Museveni again overwhelmingly comes 2026 general presidential election.

“We need to ensure we support NRM, even if you vote for me without voting Museveni it will be useless, we have to clean grounds for Museveni.” Akumu alluded

Mavenjina also declared that she will bounce back on the ballot papers in the forthcoming general elections to represent elderly persons of Northern Uganda.

The legislator revealed that she has completed consultation with her electorates, in the greater North consisting of districts of sub-regions of Karamoja, Lango, Acholi and West Nile adding that there’s promising grounds for her.

Paidha town council NRM structures embrace MP for Northern Uganda Catherine AKumu Mavenjina. Photo/ Alex Pithua.

“The people of Karamoja gave me blessings, they called me a political girl of theirs’ and named me Akumu Katharing Mavenjina “Nakiru”, and they covered me with their traditional fabric because when I reached, there was a heavy downpour a sign of victory.

In Lango, they gave me blessings too, when I met them in Lira town hall an elderly woman approached me and offered me blessings on behalf of members while holding a Rosary in her hand.

In Acholi East at Kitgum Municipality during my consultation I was given blessings, they gave me “uboku ulyedhu” the green fresh leaves used by the Luo people when performing important rituals. In it the Luo believe there’s power and good fortune.” Akumu narrated

As the shells of pressure intensifies in greater Nebbi ahead of the 2026 elections, the longtime strong hold of president Museveni, is losing hope and trust after four decades long waiting and no promising words for tarmacking this national road.

Several users of the road have resorted to expressing frustration on social media (Tiktalk, FaceBook and WhatsApp), radios and TVs, blaming the dire condition to lack of political will.

The situation forced West Nile MPs to organize a protest last month but police blocked it, turning down the MPs’ request for permission for peaceful demonstration in Nebbi district.

The head of the demonstration was MP for Padyere county, Utimgiu Isaaka Ismael.

Although the districts of greater Nebbi constitute bulk voters in NRM register, there’s a growing worry among the NRM diehards that there could be a significant drop in percent for president Museveni’s total votes as compared to previous elections.

“There’s worry that the president may pass but, he may not get the too much he used to get.” The source stressed in his opinion during interviewed

On the other hands in Zombo district, trust is trying to build-up just after the recent NRM primary elections for sub-counties and town council structures which saw vocal prominent Museveni’s mobilizers like Stephen Ukwaimungu who doubled as Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU) ambassador for West Nile and Bosco Adoni, chairman NRM Alangi sub-county who is the chief mobilizer for Museveni in Zombo district.

L-R Onega Innocent, Okwaimungu Stephen ( Central) MP AKumu Mavenjina . Photo/ Alex Pithua.

A number of sources we interviewed over the weekend believes that Adoni Bosco and Okwaimungu Stephen are forces NRM can reckon with to turn things right in favour of NRM candidates as oppositions’ parties are building grassroots’ structures.

The Nebbi-Goli-Paidha-Zombo-Padea-Zeu-Warr-Vurra road feasibility studies have been completed five years’ back but it remains in deplorable state even sometimes it becomes impassible after downpour with no better alternative roads and tracks plying DR Congo remain stranded along the road.

However, MP for Ora county, Lawrence Songa Biyika has asserted that on many occasions the Ministry of Works and Transport and Ministry of Finance has never taken this particular road as a key priority in their planning hence ignoring it yet they know its viability intern of revenue, border security and local economic development to this community venturing agriculture.

But Songa has little hope with commencement of construction of River Adoka bridge at the border of Zombo and Arua districts.

Other major bridges which are supposed to be fixed along this road include river Umol, Aniza, Ora, Nyagak and Ayuda.

The MP observed that the work progress is too slow, asking the government to allocate more funds and award contracts to more contractors to take up work for other bridges instead of relying on the one at the site.

This road will not in any way have a negative impact on president Museveni votes alone but also MPs and LC V Chairpersons in greater Nebbi.

The locals have been having divergent thoughts, for instance they believe weak political representation could be the root course of underdevelopment in the area.