Lira, Uganda | Preparations are in high gear for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s visit to the Lango subregion this Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Lango College, with authorities confirming the event will be a thanksgiving and victory celebration following his landmark electoral performance in the area.
Lira City Resident City Commissioner Lawrence Egole, on Monday, told journalists that the President’s visit is aimed at celebrating the overwhelming support he received from the region during the January 2026 general elections.
Egole said it was the first time the people of Lango had overwhelmingly voted for the President and candidates of the National Resistance Movement, describing the moment as one of unity and appreciation. He added that support for the president cut across political lines, including voters from the Uganda People’s Congress and other parties, which he said signalled a new political chapter for the subregion.
He revealed that the visit was initiated by Ambassador Joseph Ocwet, Director of the External Security Organization (ESO), who is coordinating the event alongside various committees. Egole assured the public that all logistical and security arrangements had been finalized.
Security agencies have heightened preparedness ahead of the visit, with the Police confirming elaborate deployment plans. North Kyoga Police spokesperson Jimmy Patrick Okema said designated parking for the public would be at Adyel Boarding Primary School to ease traffic flow, while the main venue would have controlled access for invited guests.
Okema said they had conducted ground assessments and designed operational plans to ensure a safe and successful event, adding that surveillance systems, including CCTV, would be fully operational throughout the day.
The clarification of the event as a thanksgiving celebration follows weeks of uncertainty over its format. Earlier communication had indicated that the President would deliver a public lecture focusing on unity, reconciliation, and socio-economic transformation.
In a message to the public, Patrick Okwir, spokesperson of the Won Nyaci me Lango, said the institution had been informed of the revised programme but emphasized its non-partisan role, noting that it could not take the lead in organizing a political event. He added that the institution would offer moral and advisory support and would participate if invited.
The earlier proposal for a public lecture had been presented to the Lango Paramount Chief, Michael Moses Odongo Okune, by Ambassador Ocwet, with leaders hoping to use the platform to present a unified development agenda for the sub-region.
However, a meeting of leaders last week at Margarita Palace Hotel resolved to temporarily halt preparations pending clarity on the nature of the engagement, citing the need for a structured and inclusive programme.
Despite the initial confusion, the latest communication has aligned stakeholders toward a celebratory event expected to draw large crowds from across the region.
In the January 15 elections, Museveni secured about 83.9% of the vote in Lango, compared to approximately 11.17% for his main challenger, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu. Nationally, the president was declared winner with 71.65% of the total valid votes.
Leaders have since called on residents to turn up in large numbers for the event, which is expected to underscore both political realignment and renewed engagement between the government and the Lango sub-region.