PRESIDENT MUSEVENI UNVEILS INDIVIDUALIZED WATER PLAN FOR WEALTH CREATORS IN KARAMOJA, PLEDGES MORE ROADS, SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has unveiled a new government initiative to establish individualized water systems aimed at supporting commercial farmers and small-scale producers, as part of a broader effort to eradicate poverty through wealth creation and self-sufficiency. Addressing thousands of supporters during a campaign rally at Kalas Girls Primary School in Amudat District, Karamoja Sub-region, on Tuesday 28th October, 2025, H.E. Museveni said the government was developing a plan to ensure every productive household has access to reliable water for production, a move he said would mark a turning point in Uganda’s rural transformation strategy. “We are working out a plan for water for rural areas. Apart from the valley dams, people need water at each home,” President Museveni said. “The communal water systems will not address their water problem. We are trying to analyze how we can provide individualized water for wealth creators. In the Ankole area, we no longer use those communal dams. If you come to Rwakitura, you will see I have three of my own dams because animals, when they go too far, they get diseases like ticks,” he added. The new policy seeks to end decades of dependency on shared water facilities in semi-arid regions like Karamoja, where boreholes and valley dams are often overstretched or dry up during prolonged droughts. “Borehole water is still very low at 18%. The Minister of Karamoja must find out what the problem is, because in other districts like Abim and Karenga, the percentage is much higher,” President Museveni said. Government data indicates that only 18% of Amudat District’s 415 villages currently have access to safe water, leaving 81.7% without a clean source. Of the existing water-for-production infrastructure, one solar-powered irrigation system has been completed at Katotin, 12 valley tanks have been constructed, and two wind-powered abstraction systems have been installed. Major recent projects include the Kosike Valley Dam, with a capacity of 2.7 billion litres, and the Kaechom Valley Dam, which holds 1.8 billion litres. Ongoing projects include additional solar-powered irrigation systems and a large valley tank under construction. The Lowoyakur Dam, shared with Nakapiripirit, will hold 1.4 billion litres of water once completed. Peace as the foundation of development: Throughout his address, President Museveni emphasized that peace, the first of seven core achievements highlighted in the NRM’s 2026–2031 manifesto, remains the cornerstone of Uganda’s development. “If you want to know that miracles are possible in Africa, come to Karamoja and come to Amudat. I thank God for making me somehow connected to that miracle,” President Museveni said, while revisiting Uganda’s turbulent past. He explained how the National Resistance Movement (NRM) restored peace and national unity after decades of instability, where, before 1986, Uganda’s electoral and administrative systems were poorly aligned, leading to marginalization in areas like Karamoja. “Before the coming into power of NRM, there were no permanent constituencies. They would just make ad hoc constituencies to favor certain parties. In 1989, we decided that each constituency must be equal to a county. At that time, there were 149 counties in the whole of Uganda, and something called Upe was one of them with a population of only 20,000. Some of the counties in the south, like Bukoto, had 360,000 people. But we said that for now, let’s start with the counties, and that’s how Upe became a constituency,” President Museveni said. He highlighted Amudat’s recognition as a district stemming from the government’s respect for cultural and linguistic diversity. “These people are Pokot, and their language is different from Karamojong. Let them have their district and speak their Pokot language there. When I come today and see that the population of Amudat has grown to 203,000, I say this is a miracle,” President Museveni said. Disarmament and border security: President Museveni credited Uganda’s peace to firm decisions such as the disarmament of Karamojong warriors in the early 2000s. He dismissed arguments that communities in Karamoja and neighboring Turkana, Pokot, or Toposa areas should be allowed to keep guns to “balance terror.” “Some said if Karamojong and Turkana both stay with guns, they will stabilize by killing each other. But why have a government if people must protect themselves?” he asked. “And this was a false argument because, like in West Nile, there’s peace, despite the wars in South Sudan and Congo, West Nile is peaceful. Even Kasese and Bundibugyo are peaceful, yet there are wars in Eastern DRC. So, that’s when I insisted that you bring the guns; I will protect you against the Pokot of Kenya, Turkana of Kenya, and others,” President Museveni added, noting that when the Turkana killed three people, including surveyors, he banned them from grazing in Uganda. President Museveni said he had since raised the issue with Kenya’s President William Ruto, demanding that the Kenyan government compensate the victims’ families. “I could not accept this impunity of criminality. I told President Ruto that if these criminals don’t have money, the Kenyan government must pay. I will perform a ceremony in Karamoja here with President Ruto for the Kenyan government to pay for the lives of our officers who died,” President Museveni said, adding that the ceremony will also attract elders to cleanse the blood of the people who died, and the bishops and the sheikhs will also come in and contribute spiritually. Turning to infrastructure, President Museveni vowed to ensure all major roads in Karamoja remain passable year-round. “I have warned the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Local Government that I don’t want to hear of a major road that is impassable. It may not be tarmac, but it must be motorable all the time,” he said. Recent road achievements in Karamoja include 180.4 km of newly paved roads, such as Nadunget–Iriiri (65.6 km), Kokeris–Matany (5.5 km), Namalu–Nakapiripirit (17 km), and Akisim–Moroto–Lokitanyala (92.3 km). Currently under construction are the Moroto–Lokitanyala (42 km) and Muyembe–Nakapiripirit (92 km) roads. Several other routes are under procurement, including Kaabong–Kapedo–Karenga (67 km) and Kotido–Kaabong (64 km), while the Moroto–Tochi–Atiang–Opit–Awo (94 km) and Kotido–Abim–Aloi–Lira (99 km) roads are under design. President Museveni said the government would also tarmac the Nakapiripirit–Amudat road, a key artery for trade and connectivity in the region. President Museveni reaffirmed the NRM government’s commitment to universal access to education, saying the ultimate goal is to ensure one primary school per parish and one secondary school per sub-county. Currently, Amudat District has 27 government primary schools, 8 private primary schools, 2 government secondary schools, and 1 private secondary school. Out of 44 parishes, only 11 host at least one government primary school. However, three new Seed Secondary Schools are under construction, which will reduce the number of sub-counties without a government secondary school from 9 to 6. The President said he intends to abolish the practice of charging fees in government schools, calling it an injustice against poor families. “When we introduced UPE in 1996, we wanted children to study for free. But school managers started bringing money again,” he said, adding that in the coming government, he would like to stop the charging of fees in government schools. In the health sector, President Museveni noted that Amudat District currently has one Health Centre IV and three Health Centre IIIs, leaving seven sub-counties without any health facility. To close this gap, the government plans to upgrade and construct several facilities, including: Upgrading Karita HCIV to a General Hospital, upgrading Abilyep HCII, Achorichor HCII, Amudat HCII, Cheptapoyo HCII, and Lokales HCII to HCIIIs and constructing new HCIIIs in Karita and Kongoro sub-counties. Ongoing works include the upgrading of Katabok HCII to HCIII, Karita HCIII to HCIV, and the construction of an operating theatre at Amudat General Hospital. President Museveni used the rally to reinforce his message of wealth creation, urging residents to use the Parish Development Model (PDM) and other government programs to lift themselves out of poverty. He played video testimonials of beneficiaries who have prospered under the PDM, including: George Matongo, a livestock farmer in Ngoma; Dick Korea Ogila, a mango farmer from Abim earning over Shs6 million per harvest; Amos Losengole, a goat farmer from Amudat who invested his Shs1 million PDM fund wisely; and Emmanuel Lokong, a piggery farmer from Nakapiripirit. President Museveni said the government would soon provide vehicles to cooperatives to help farmers transport goods to urban markets. Amudat District has so far received Shs13.49 billion under the PDM, of which Shs13.1 billion (97.2%) has been disbursed to 12,118 households, about 28.6% of the district’s 42,310 households. “We shall support cooperatives with group transport to access Kampala markets,” H.E. Museveni pledged. President Museveni told residents that Uganda’s transformation from instability to peace and development over the last 40 years is a testament to the NRM’s resilience. “Now we have peace not only in Karamoja but also in Acholi, West Nile, the Rwenzori, and Kisoro. There’s peace everywhere,” he said. He urged voters to defend the gains made under the NRM government by ensuring continued support for the party in the upcoming 2026 elections. “If anybody asks you why you support NRM, tell them that in our manifesto of 2026–2031, peace is our first contribution. It is the foundation upon which everything else stands,” President Museveni said. First Lady Janet Museveni calls for 100% NRM vote: The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, also addressed the rally, commending the people of Amudat and Karamoja for their steadfast support of the NRM. “The NRM government is your government. It has worked so hard to make sure that Karamoja is peaceful, like any other part of Uganda. Please make it a responsibility to make sure that everybody votes for NRM so that we protect the gains so far and take a qualitative leap into the middle-income status for the whole of Karamoja and Uganda,” The First Lady said, adding that this would enable all the programs in the pipeline to be implemented in the next term of office. “Therefore, I trust that even this time, you’ll make sure that Amudat will vote 100% for the President and the whole lineup of NRM flagbearers,” she added. Amudat District, with a population of 203,358 people, had 43,647 registered voters in the 2021 elections. Of these, 31,453 (72.1%) voted, and President Museveni secured 30,451 votes (97.6%), while the National Unity Platform (NUP) polled 625 votes (2%). As of 2025, registered voters in the district have risen to 58,203, and the number of polling stations has increased from 120 to 164. The event was also addressed by several senior leaders, including Speaker of Parliament and Second National Vice Chairperson, Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, NRM Vice Chairperson for Karamoja, Hon. John Baptist Loki, and NRM Secretary General, Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong, who urged residents to maintain their loyalty to the ruling party and consolidate the progress achieved under President Museveni’s leadership.

2025-11-28

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI PLEDGES REVOLVING FUND FOR MBALE STATE LODGE NEIGHBOURS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has promised to establish a dedicated revolving fund for residents neighbouring Mbale State Lodge, saying the government is committed to ensuring every homestead in Busamaga Parish benefits from wealth-creation programmes under a structured SACCO system. Meeting the association of neighbours at Busamaga Parish in Mbale City today, President Museveni thanked them for organising themselves and inviting him for a direct dialogue. He stressed that the government's priority is to reach every homestead with enterprise financing, starting with the Parish Development Model (PDM), which he described as a pilot phase that will now be expanded. “The first issue is to get figures—how many homesteads are here,” he said. “What we normally do is reach each homestead but in stages. That is what we are doing with PDM. That’s why we send UGX 100 million each year. The President explained that with 1,000 homesteads in the parish, the current allocation of UGX 100 million per year translates into UGX 500 million over five years, which would benefit about 800 homesteads depending on the amount taken per family. “Those who took it will have brought it back, and by the end of the five years we shall have reached about 800 homesteads,” he said. He confirmed that the government intends to increase the capital so the revolving fund can cover all households. President Museveni emphasised that the key requirement is collective organisation through genuine SACCOs. He cautioned against the misuse of SACCO funds, especially as seen in Kampala where leaders monopolise the money. “You must all be members of a SACCO. If you got one million shillings, after two years you pay back UGX 1.2 million. It is free money really, but it should rotate.” The President outlined three areas of support: improving local roads, individual credit through the revolving fund, and group projects. He said assets such as taxis, tents for events and public address systems must be collectively owned by the association. He promised to send the State House Comptroller to verify legitimate members and oversee the delivery of the seed capital. Speaking on behalf of the Mbale State Lodge Neighbours Association, Mr. Musoba Stephen, the group spokesperson, said their mission is to build a self-reliant youth community. He thanked the President for his consistent efforts to transform peasant households into a modern society and praised programmes like Emyooga, PDM and NAADS for uplifting household incomes. Mr. Musoba said the youth are seeking financial support to strengthen both individual and group businesses. He also appealed for improved road infrastructure and requested assistance for assets such as taxis, boda bodas, dairy cattle, ovens, and the procurement of a permanent home for their association. He noted that as neighbours to the State Lodge, “we are the closest when anything happens.”

2025-11-16

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI RALLIES BUGISU NRM LEADERS TO GUARD AGAINST OPPOSITION LIES, PRIORITIZE WEALTH CREATION

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged the National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders in Bugisu sub-region to remain steadfast, reject what he described as lies and distortions from opposition politicians, and instead champion government priorities of wealth creation, industrialization, and value addition. Speaking to 17,725 NRM leaders gathered at Mbale Secondary School grounds on Sunday, November 16, 2025, President Museveni, who is also the NRM national chairman, accused the opposition of spreading misinformation, misunderstanding national planning frameworks, and prioritizing issues such as salaries and allowances at the expense of strategic investments that stimulate long-term economic transformation. “NRM has no problem. Our analysis is correct, and our strategy is correct. That’s why we were able to defeat all these groups, even in the war, even when we started with 27 people,” President Museveni said. He emphasized that while the NRM attempts to work harmoniously with all Ugandans, the opposition continues to mislead the population and push agendas that do not align with national development priorities. President Museveni also listed power generation, industrial parks, and strategic road projects as critical investments that unlock employment, stimulate industrial growth, and expand the tax base. He cited the recurrent debate around the Mbale– Namagumba– Bududa–Nalugugu road, noting that while such projects are important, Uganda’s development plan must account for broader national interests. “Sometimes the priorities are not correct. The other day in Bududa and Namisindwa, we were talking about the circular road. We would have done these roads long ago, but the priorities of our partners are not always the same,” he explained. President Museveni had no kind words for other presidential candidates in the 2026 presidential race, some of whom were in parliament but prioritized salaries and allowances over national development and wealth creation. “But what I don’t like are people who make mistakes but later go and tell lies. Like when my son Nandala Mafabi goes to Namisindwa and says the road is bad. Yes, but you are the one who delayed it because you were the one who was in parliament, prioritizing salaries and allowances for yourself,” he said. “Maybe if it is Robert Kasibante, and those who have never been to parliament, I can forgive. But the ones who were in parliament, like Nadala Mafabi, Mugisha Muntu, Robert Kyagulanyi, Mubarak Munyagwa, they have no right to speak about anything, because they had a chance in parliament to think but never did,” President Museveni stated, further reminding the NRM leaders to be careful when listening to opposition politicians, saying “they are working to malign and suppress government achievements.” He insisted that opposition politicians should not attack the government over incomplete road works when they themselves allegedly frustrated earlier attempts to fund such projects. Uganda’s Growth: “One of the fastest in the world” President Museveni praised Uganda’s economic progress, citing a growth rate of 7%, with projections of surpassing 10% once oil production comes on board. He pointed to industrial output, hotel investments, and the expansion of the manufacturing sector as tangible evidence of Uganda’s transformation. President Museveni reinforced his point by highlighting Uganda’s rapidly expanding industrial landscape, pointing to major industrial parks and their growing employment capacity. He cited the Sino-Mbale Industrial Park, which now hosts 75 factories employing 12,000 people, as a prime example of the region’s rising manufacturing potential. President Museveni also noted that the Namanve Industrial Park has grown into a national industrial hub with 273 factories employing 44,000 workers, and the fully established Kapeeka Industrial Zone, as well as expanding manufacturing clusters in Mukono, Matugga, which together signal Uganda’s strengthening industrial capabilities. Matugga, he said, now houses one of the largest pharmaceutical plants in the world, while Kiira Motors in Jinja is assembling vehicles, marking Uganda’s strategic entry into the automotive manufacturing sector. “When I met the Japanese, I told them we’re buying a lot of vehicles from you. Come and assemble them in Uganda. They refused, but when I started making my own vehicles, they came running. I said sorry, it’s too late.” President Museveni showcased the Karuma Hydropower Dam, which generates 640 megawatts, surpassing the old Jinja dam that once produced 150 megawatts but later declined to 60 megawatts due to outdated equipment. He reminded the audience that industrialization and value addition would be impossible without such large-scale energy investments. “Without that power, we would not have these factories here. The factories you see are coming because electricity is available.” He also celebrated the economic success of Kalangala’s palm oil project, which has enabled Uganda to reduce dependence on imported soap-making oil from Malaysia. “I recall during the 1996 election, there was some pressure from Mbale, Kabale, and even Kasese, where people complained that URA was overly strict with smugglers from Kenya and the Congo. But this is because everything here was coming from outside. Now everything is coming from here,” President Museveni said. He accused certain local actors and organizations of working against Uganda’s development agenda. He warned leaders to be cautious of individuals who, according to him, seek to undermine Uganda’s progress either for foreign interests or for personal gain. Value Addition: “Stop Exporting Raw Materials” President Museveni reiterated point number five of the NRM’s Ten-Point Programme -value addition, arguing that Uganda loses billions by exporting raw coffee instead of processing it locally. He highlighted global statistics to illustrate how much value Uganda is currently missing out in the coffee sector. “The coffee, which you depend quite a bit on, they don’t give us enough money from it because the global value of coffee is USD 460 billion, but Africa gets only USD 2.5 billion. Why? Because we sell unprocessed coffee,” President Museveni noted, adding that in Uganda, farmers currently earn between USD 4.2 and USD 4.5 per kilogram of robusta coffee, but this could rise to USD 8–9 per kilogram if the coffee was processed locally. Furthermore, exported processed robusta could fetch between USD 22 and USD 25 per kilogram, while processed Arabica could bring in as much as USD 30–40 per kilogram. He told Bugisu coffee farmers that full cooperation with the government would help transform their incomes and the national economy. “But once you all listen to our message, Uganda is so rich that we would be helping other countries, not the other way around,” he said. Discussing corruption, President Museveni explained that he introduced the Local Council (LC) system to counteract corruption inherited from colonial-era administrative structures. He insisted that LCs must remain vigilant and supervise civil servants whose misconduct undermines service delivery. “Those chiefs were corrupt. I said; let’s get our leaders, the local council leaders, elected by us, the money they’re stealing is your money,” he said. The Speaker of Parliament and NRM's Second National Vice Chairperson, Rt. Hon. Annet Anita Among praised President Museveni for empowering local governance systems through the LC structure. She described LC 1 chairpersons as “presidents of their villages,” whose authority is central to community management. Rt. Hon. Among thanked the President for increasing LC chairperson salaries from UGX 10,000 to UGX 100,000, arguing that the increment reflects the importance of grassroots leadership. “You are the ones supposed to know everybody in your village. There is nothing that takes place without the authorization of an LC 1.” She urged leaders to capitalize on their influence to secure an overwhelming NRM victory in the upcoming elections, noting that the party’s support base already exists within villages. “The votes are within our members, not outside,” she said. Rt. Hon. Among revealed that PDM funds had been expanded to include UGX 15 million specifically for parish-level leaders and their SACCOs. The NRM Secretary General, Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong emphasized that leadership begins at home and at the LC 1 level. He reminded leaders of their responsibilities as “social doctors” who diagnose and address community challenges. “Every LC 1 here must be aware of the number of households in this area, the social and economic issues, and the level of production.” He urged them to use party structures effectively to deliver votes for President Museveni and all NRM flag bearers. Hon. Calvin Echodu, the NRM Vice Chairperson, Eastern Region, reassured the President that Bugisu remains firmly behind him. “Your people are mobilized, the structures are ready, and thank you for being our rallying point,” he said. The Mbale meeting attracted an extensive delegation consisting of NRM Central Executive Committee members, District chairpersons, LCV flag bearers, Member of Parliament flag bearers, District chief secretaries, Sub-County NRM chairpersons, Parish and village NRM chairpersons, and LC 1 NRM flag bearers.

2025-11-16

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI REASSURES TORORO RESIDENTS ON NEW DISTRICTS, PROMISES MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reassured the people of Tororo that the government has completed its part in resolving the long-standing administrative and district boundary questions raised by Tororo leaders. Recently, the government resolved to elevate Tororo Municipality to city status, making it a neutral administrative unit and creating three new districts from the current Tororo District to accommodate the different communities. The districts include Mukuju, Mulanda and Kisoko. While addressing a massive campaign rally at Lions Park today, the President said he would “check with the Attorney General” to ensure the final legal steps are completed, adding that the concerns brought forward by Tororo leaders “were finished on our side.” The reassurance formed the backbone of the President’s wide-ranging address, in which he also detailed the NRM’s infrastructure plans for the next term. He said the 2026–2031 manifesto focuses on completing Uganda’s backbone infrastructure—roads, electricity, water systems, and health facilities—and enabling every household to generate wealth. He announced government funding for the Tororo– Nagongela– Kisoko– Busulwe–Busaba road and said works on the Busia–Tororo road were ongoing. “These roads support production,” he said, emphasising that movement, trade, and market access depend on the economic infrastructure NRM has built. The President also outlined a sweeping health sector upgrade for Tororo District, including the elevation of Malaba, Lyolwa and Paaya HCIIIs to HCIVs, and the upgrading of 19 HCII facilities across the district. He said this would eliminate the 16 sub-counties currently without government health centres. In education, President Museveni criticised the persistence of school fees in government schools, warning that fees remain a national barrier despite huge investments in school infrastructure. He called for internal NRM discussions on implementing free education, arguing that thousands of children still drop out because of fees challenges. “School fees are a danger. The future of these children is being destroyed.” President Museveni said Uganda’s progress is attributed to the peace NRM established, which laid the foundation for development and wealth creation—principles he said remain central to the 2026–2031 manifesto. The NRM Second National Vice Chairperson, Rt. Hon. Anita Among said she would ensure the district-related directives are implemented. The NRM Vice Chairperson for Eastern Region, Hon. Calvin Echodu thanked the residents of Tororo for braving the rain to attend the campaign rally in big numbers. The NRM Tororo District Chairperson, Hon. Yeri Apollo Ofwono thanked the President for creating Mukuju, Mulanda and Kisoko districts, and for granting Tororo city status.

2025-11-15

BUGIRI: PRESIDENT MUSEVENI KICKS-OFF CAMPAIGN TRAIL IN BUSOGA, HIGHLIGHTS DEVELOPMENT PLANS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Presidential flag bearer, has today officially kicked off his campaign trail in the Busoga sub-region starting with Bugiri District. He was accompanied by the First National Vice Chairman of the NRM, Alhaji Moses Kigongo and other top party leaders. Addressing thousands of supporters, President Museveni called on the residents of Bugiri to renew their trust in NRM by voting for him and other party candidates in the forthcoming general elections. He said the NRM’s long-standing record on unity, peace and national development sets it apart from other political formations. “I am here, together with other leaders, to ask you to support the NRM. We are a national party with a proven record. From the beginning, we rejected the sectarian politics that divided Uganda in the 1960s. We believe everyone is valuable and that is why Uganda is stable today,” he said. The President outlined the government’s infrastructure achievements in Busoga, noting that the region has received a significant share of national development efforts. “If you audit Busoga, you will see the development,” he said. He highlighted the reconstruction of major highways including Jinja–Kampala, Jinja–Tororo and other regional roads. New tarmac roads, he said, have been added, such as Iganga–Kaliro and Busita–Namayingo. President Museveni further assured the citizens that more key roads are lined for construction, including; Jinja–Kamuli–Mbulamuti, Iganga–Kiyunga–Kamuli as well as roads within Bugiri district, including Bugiri–Namayingo, among others. On water access, the President explained that the geology of Lake Victoria basin makes boreholes unfeasible. “Our plan is to pump water directly from Lake Victoria to the higher areas, just like we did in Lira where we pumped from Kachung, 21 miles away,” he noted. “We are already supplying Kampala from Katosi. We shall do the same here so that the people of Bugiri get a reliable water supply.” On education, President Museveni expressed concern about inequitable distribution of schools in Bugiri. Bugiri District and Bugiri Municipality have 149 government primary schools, However, out of the district’s 102 parishes, 44 parishes still lack a government primary school. “This must stop, we need to look into this issue of distribution seriously. I appeal to the NRM district chairperson, the RDC, DEOs to take it up. Let us ensure that every parish has a government primary school but not finding one parish with more schools yet there are those without any,” he said. At the secondary level, Bugiri has 20 sub-counties, but only nine have government secondary schools. To close this gap, he announced that three new seed secondary schools will be constructed under the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers (UgIFT) program and the Uganda Secondary Education Expansion Project (USEEP). “Our target is simple: every sub-county must have a secondary school, and every parish must have a government primary school,” he said. The President also emphasized that wealth creation remains a core pillar of the NRM. “Some people confuse development with wealth. Kampala has development, but some people in the ghettos are still poor. Wealth is created in four sectors: commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and ICT,” he said. He reiterated the long-standing four-acre model introduced in the 1996 manifesto and cited success stories even in remote areas like Karamoja. To accelerate household incomes, he said the government will continue injecting money through the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga and new targeted funds for youth groups, ghetto communities, boda bodas, unemployed university graduates, religious and cultural leaders. The President also addressed misconceptions about job creation. “Government jobs are 480,000, yet we have 50 million Ugandans. Real jobs come from wealth from factories, commercial agriculture, services and ICT. The factories alone now employ 1.3 million Ugandans, three times more than the government.” On the other hand, President Museveni re-echoed his frustrations with the resistance against free education. “We introduced free education in 1996 because we knew school fees would block many children, but some head teachers and PTAs refused to implement it. That’s why I started the Presidential Skilling Hubs,” he said. President Museveni said the skilling hubs have already transformed young people who would otherwise be left behind. The President also handed over the NRM flags to aspiring Members of Parliament, LC V chairperson, councillors, and other party candidates in Bugiri District, formally endorsing their participation in the upcoming elections. On his part, Alhaji Kigongo thanked the people of Bugiri for supporting President Museveni and the NRM. “We request your votes for the President. Once we are united, we can settle all issues. On voting day, go out and support our chairman,” he appealed. Hon. Calvin Echodu, the NRM vice chairperson, Eastern Region said: “Your Excellency, you are no stranger to Busoga. The numbers here justify the strong support for you. We congratulate you on completing the Bukedi sub-region. Thank you, Busoga.” Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, the First Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda and Minister for East African Community Affairs, also welcomed the President, urging focus on industrial and tourism development in the region. “Your Excellency, we need safe water in Busoga, an issue that has been affecting our people. We also want to look forward to boosting tourism and creating more opportunities for our people.” Hon. Solomon Silwany, the NRM chairperson for Bugiri district thanked the President for his wise leadership that has brought development and elevated the livelihoods of the people in Busoga. NRM impact in Bugiri: Bugiri District has made notable strides in education, healthcare, water access, and environmental management, reflecting the government’s continued commitment to regional development. Bugiri District and municipality have a total of 149 primary schools serving 105,224 children. Of the district’s 102 parishes, 58 have at least one government primary school, leaving 44 parishes still without a primary school. At the secondary level, the district has 9 government secondary schools enrolling 10,699 students, and the Municipality has 1 school with 1,876 students. Plans are underway to construct three new secondary schools under the UgIFT and USEEP programs. Once completed, the number of sub-counties without a government secondary school will drop from 11 to 8. Busoga’s Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub, located in Jinja District, has trained 961 students in skills such as welding, carpentry, building construction, tailoring, bakery, hairdressing, and leather design, with 240 currently undergoing training. Bugiri District’s health infrastructure comprises 1 hospital, 1 HCIV, and 11 HCIIIs, with 7 sub-counties still lacking a health facility of HCIII level or above. Plans are underway to upgrade Bugoyozi HCII to HCIII in Namayemba T/C, Busowa HCII to HCIII, Wagobo HCII to HCIII, Budhava HCII to HCIII, and to construct new HCIIIs in Buwumi TC, Muwayo TC, and Muterere S/C. In the rural areas, 335 out of 498 villages (67%) have access to safe water, leaving 163 villages (32%) without safe water. Urban water projects completed include the Bugiri Town Council supply serving 54,970 people, Buwuni TC benefiting 11,680 residents, and Nankoma supply reaching 21,563 residents. Future projects include the Namayemba piped water and sanitation system, while farmer support projects continue through Lwembe to promote water for production. Bugiri District covers 22,760 hectares of wetland, of which 16,020 hectares (70.4%) have been degraded, leaving only 6,740 hectares (29.6%) intact. The event was attended by NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) members, Members of Parliament, religious and cultural leaders, as well as thousands of supporters.

2025-11-15

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI URGES YOUTH TO CHAMPION EAST AFRICAN INTEGRATION, WARNS AGAINST WASTING TIME ON RIOTS AND NON-PRODUCTIVE DEBATES

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on Uganda’s youth to dedicate their energy to championing the long-sought political and economic integration of East Africa. Speaking on Friday, November 14, 2025, during a media engagement with journalists in the Bukedi sub-region at the State Lodge in Mbale, President Museveni, who is also the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate, outlined the seven core pillars of the NRM’s 2026–2031 manifesto and emphasized the strategic role of regional unity in securing Africa’s future. During the interaction, President Museveni critiqued young people who, in his view, spend too much time engaging in riots or waste energy on radio debates that “do not benefit them.” “Where will you sell what you produce? And if the internal market of Uganda is enough, why would the Chinese, who have a market of 1.4 billion, be looking for markets here? It's really amazing when I see you, fellows, young people, politicians, intellectuals, what are you intellectualizing about? You are not dealing with your future,” the President said. He used Uganda’s dairy production as an example: despite producing 5.3 billion liters of milk annually, the domestic demand stands at only 800 million liters. “We have a surplus of four billion liters. Sometimes Kenya buys, sometimes it doesn’t, then we go to Algeria. And it is the same issue with sugar, maize, cement,” he said. According to the President, such structural imbalances demonstrate why the youth should redirect discussions toward East African market integration rather than “talking about European football” or other non-developmental preoccupations. President Museveni outlined the seven pillars of the NRM manifesto for the next five years. These include: Peace, Development, Wealth creation, Job creation, expanding services, expanding markets, and Political federation of East Africa He emphasized that these points are interconnected, with market expansion and regional political federation acting as the anchors for long-term economic growth. How Will You Survive Without Unity? The President gave a historical analogy, pointing to the 19th-century unification of Germany as a story the youth ought to study. Before 1870, he said, Germans were scattered across 39 kingdoms, making it impossible for them to build a strong capitalist economy. The Franco-Prussian War accelerated unification, creating a stronger and more competitive Germany. “If you have studied European history, you would have known how Germany and Italy united. What was moving them was the issue of the market,” President Museveni said. “A modern economy cannot grow without a market.” He warned that African nations risk stagnation if they continue to operate as small, disjointed units in a world dominated by technological powerhouses. Drawing a dramatic comparison, he said: “Are you going to survive in this world, or will you just disappear like the Red Indians?” President Museveni lamented that while other nations are advancing in space exploration, Africa remains distracted. “People have gone to the moon; they are looking at us from there. We are like insects that eat sugar. How can you, professors, allow such a gap to occur?” he wondered. Push for East African Federation: The NRM candidate also emphasised the need to intensify efforts toward the East African political federation. While acknowledging that the current East African Community (EAC) market operates “sometimes well, sometimes not,” he said the long-term solution lies in formal political integration. According to President Museveni, a united East Africa would possess a strong defense system, technological capacity, and the economic muscle required to compete on the global stage. “East Africa can have a strong capacity, go to the moon, send a satellite, and ask the Americans: what are you doing here? The moon is a common property,” he said humorously. He urged journalists to use their platforms to sustain conversations on integration, arguing that radio talk shows and local media should not ignore issues that determine “the destiny of Africans.” President Museveni, who is also the NRM National chairman, addressed the contentious issue of party members who lost in party primaries and are running as independent candidates. He noted that during the constitution-making debates, there were proposals to outlaw independents. However, this position was rejected because primaries can sometimes be flawed. “For now, it may not be correct to ban independents because primaries sometimes make mistakes,” he said, advocating for political dialogue and persuasion to unify support behind the party’s flag bearers. President Museveni stressed that ideological alignment, not personal ambition, should guide political competition. “Conflicts arise when people prioritize positions over principles. If we all believe in the same thing, why fight each other? Conflicts come because people are talking about themselves,” he said. On the subject of national wealth creation, President Museveni maintained that it is only the NRM government that has created direct funding programs to lift citizens out of poverty. He pointed to initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), which he said is already transforming households across the country. “I heard a rumor that journalists are researchers. Go and check if any Ugandan government has ever given its people money as a wealth creation fund,” he challenged reporters. Infrastructure First, Salaries Later: Addressing concerns about public service salaries, the President acknowledged the issue but defended the government’s prioritization of strategic infrastructure projects. These, he argued, create long-term economic opportunities and jobs, whereas salaries are recurrent expenditures. “We prioritized infrastructure over salaries because infrastructure creates opportunities for more jobs,” he stated. Nonetheless, he assured workers that salary enhancements remain on the agenda and will be addressed. The media engagement was attended by senior NRM figures, including the Second National Vice Chairperson of the party, who also serves as Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Annet Anita Among; the NRM Electoral Commission Chairperson, Dr. Tanga Odoi; and the NRM Director for Communications, Hon. Emmanuel Dombo.

2025-11-15