Oyam, Uganda | President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has approved the creation of Aber District, to be carved out of Oyam District, in a move aimed at improving service delivery and bringing government services closer to the people.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, 7 October, during the President’s campaign rally at Oyam Boma Grounds as part of the NRM 2026 campaign trail.
President Museveni said that the government had received repeated requests from Oyam residents and leaders to split the district, which is among the largest in Northern Uganda.
He explained that the decision was taken to enhance efficiency and promote equitable access to public services.
He noted that the government would handle both the issue of creating Aber District and improving the roads, adding that if resources permitted, both projects would proceed simultaneously; otherwise, priority would be given to roads.
In a rare gesture, the president asked the crowd to decide whether the government should prioritize the Bobi–Loro road upgrade or the creation of Aber District.
The residents overwhelmingly opted for the new district, where he then told them that their choice would be respected and assured them that while the district would be created, the road project would not be abandoned.
Bosco Onyike Ogwal, NRM chairperson for Oyam District, said the district’s vastness had made it difficult to deliver services effectively.
He explained that Oyam, with more than 1,000 villages, is the largest district in Northern Uganda and second only to Wakiso nationwide.
He stressed that it was no longer practical for one administrative unit to serve such a large population and that creating Aber District was a necessary step toward improving access to government services.
Willy Omodo Omodo, the NRM flag bearer for Oyam North Constituency, also supported the creation of the new district.
He pointed out that Oyam North alone has 674 villages, more than the entire district of Alebtong, which has around 600.
He wondered why the area had not yet benefited from the government’s decentralization policy when other regions had already received new districts.
Crispus Ayena Odongo said the creation of Aber District represented a restoration of dignity for the people, describing it as long-overdue recognition for their patience and struggle.
He emphasized that the new district was not merely a geographical boundary but a symbol of justice and development.
Normmy Otyeno, Speaker of the Oyam District Council, said the local government welcomed the decision with enthusiasm and readiness to support its implementation.
He expressed optimism that Aber District would promote unity, create employment opportunities, and stimulate growth, especially among young people.
Conny Atoo, a female councillor representing Oyam Town Council, said the establishment of the new district would enhance access to education, health, and other social services while addressing unemployment challenges faced by the youth.
During his address, President Museveni commended Oyam District for its strong performance under the Parish Development Model (PDM), noting that it ranked first in Northern Uganda and fourth nationally in implementation.
He said that Shs 15.26 billion had already been disbursed to 15,358 beneficiary households across 74 parishes.
Out of 110,658 households, he added, more than half had been in the subsistence economy but were now transitioning into the money economy through the PDM.
On education, the President reported that Oyam currently has 109 government and 160 private primary schools, as well as 10 government and 10 private secondary schools.
He pledged that, under the new government term, every parish would have a government primary school, and every subcounty would have a government secondary school.