Kumam Cultural Leader Praises Uganda’s Transformation Since 1986, Backs Museveni’s Seventh Term

By Peterson Hiirya.

Won Ateker Papa Me Kumam Raphael Otaya, the Cultural Leader of the Kumam people, has praised Uganda’s social and economic transformation since 1986 and wished President Yoweri Museveni success as he seeks a seventh term in office, citing major progress in infrastructure, education, healthcare and economic growth under the National Resistance Movement government.

In an address delivered ahead of President Museveni’s swearing-in ceremony, Otaya reflected on Museveni’s historic remarks during his first inauguration in 1986, when the President declared that the National Resistance Movement victory was “not a mere change of guard, but a fundamental change.”

Otaya said Uganda had witnessed remarkable growth over the past four decades, pointing to the country’s rising population and improved living standards as indicators of national development.

According to Otaya, Uganda’s population has grown from about 13.6 million people in 1986 to a projected 52.8 million people in 2026.

He also noted significant improvements in life expectancy, saying Ugandans lived on average between 45 and 46 years in 1986, compared to approximately 68 years today.

On the economy, the Kumam cultural leader said Uganda’s Gross Domestic Product had expanded from roughly 3.9 billion U.S. dollars in 1986 to between 64 billion and 66.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2025.

Otaya further highlighted what he described as major achievements in road infrastructure development. He said paved roads in 1986 covered between 1,000 and 1,900 kilometres, while Uganda’s current road network now includes more than 20,000 kilometres of national roads, nearly 20,000 kilometres of urban roads, over 36,000 kilometres of district roads and close to 80,000 kilometres of community access roads.

He added that water transport, which had largely collapsed in 1986, had improved through the operation of ferries managed by the Uganda National Roads Authority, alongside increased use of private motorboats and cargo vessels.

In the education sector, Otaya said Uganda had only one university in 1986 — Makerere University — but now boasts more than 40 public and private universities across the country.

He also noted that the number of secondary schools had increased from just over 500 in 1986 to more than 5,000 today, while primary schools had expanded from about 5,000 to approximately 52,000 nationwide, most of them privately owned.

On healthcare, Otaya said infant mortality rates had declined significantly over the years, while livestock production had expanded sharply according to figures from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics.

He cited data showing cattle numbers increasing from 3 million in 1986 to 14.5 million in 2021, alongside substantial increases in goat, sheep, pig and rabbit populations.

Otaya said the achievements recorded over the last four decades demonstrate continued national progress under Museveni’s leadership.