President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Presidential flag bearer, has called on the young people in the party to embrace the NRM culture of discipline, hard work and results.

President Museveni noted that it is this spirit that has built Uganda over the last four decades.

Accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, the President made the remarks today during a campaign rally at Kagulu Primary School Grounds in Buyende District.

He emphasized that the NRM’s strength lies in its consistency.

“NRM is a serious movement. You, the young members, should copy the culture of the NRM, the party of doers and determined people. Because of that determination, we have laid seven bricks on the house of Uganda,” he said.

He reminded the supporters of Buyende’s history as a refuge area for people fleeing insecurity in Teso during the turbulent years.

“People ran from Teso to this area because of rebels and cattle rustlers supported by foreign groups. But NRM defeated all of them because we follow politics of interests, not politics of identity,” he said.

He urged residents to reflect on why peace eluded previous governments and why many African countries still struggle with it.

“Once you understand that, you will know the value of the NRM,” he added.

The President outlined ongoing and planned development projects in Buyende, noting that although not everything is complete, progress is steady.

He confirmed government funding for the 127km Mbulamuti–Kamuli–Bukungu road and announced that the Kamuli–Igingo–Kaliro road has now been added to the national plan.

On education, he revealed that Buyende has 92 government primary schools against 73 parishes but warned leaders about poor distribution.

“Some parishes have more than one school while 36 parishes have none. Be strict about this,” he said.

For secondary education, the district has 6 government secondary schools across 14 sub-counties. The government is constructing one Seed Secondary School, which will reduce the sub-counties without a government secondary school from eight to seven.

On health, President Museveni outlined major upgrades including upgrading Kagulu HCII, Nkoone HCII, and Ngandho HCII to HCIII, construction of new HCIIIs in Gumpi, Buyanja, and Kidera.

He noted that the district also has two HCIVs, each with a doctor.

President Museveni once again cautioned Ugandans against confusing development with wealth.

“Development is for all of us, but wealth is personal. Wealth is created in four sectors: commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and ICT,” he noted.

He encouraged Buyende residents to embrace the Four-Acre Model and praised regions like Karamoja for adopting commercial agriculture.

President Museveni said the government will continue supporting households through the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, and new targeted funds for youth, ghetto groups, cultural leaders, boda bodas and unemployed graduates.

The President further highlighted Uganda’s production boom; coffee rising from 3 million to 12 million bags, milk production growing from 200 million litres to 5.3 billion litres and similar growth in maize and other crops.

“What I want is everyone to join the money economy,” he said.

President Museveni also dismissed the belief that the government should employ everyone.

“Government jobs are 480,000. We are 50 million Ugandans. Real jobs come from factories, commercial agriculture, services and ICT. Factories now employ 1.3 million Ugandans, three times more than the government.”

He also expressed frustration with the resistance to free education.

“We introduced free education in 1996, but some head teachers and PTAs blocked children because of fees. That’s why I started the Presidential Skilling Hubs,” he said.

The President also handed over the NRM flags to aspiring Members of Parliament, LC V chairperson, councillors, and other party candidates in Buyende District, formally endorsing their participation in the upcoming elections.

On her part, Maama Janet called on Ugandans to take personal responsibility in protecting the peace and unity that the country has enjoyed under the NRM government.

Maama Janet said Uganda’s painful history should remind citizens that peace must never be taken for granted.

“My first prayer is that the people of Uganda take responsibility for protecting the unity of our country,” she said.

“Uganda suffered for a long time, but by God’s grace He brought us together, gave us the NRM government, and restored peace and unity. Now it is our duty as Ugandans to preserve this peace so that our country can continue moving forward.”

She appealed to voters to make a deliberate choice for stability in the upcoming elections.

“Let us ensure to see that our children may have the freedom to walk in this land knowing that there is peace for every family, that is why, when voting day comes, every Ugandan of voting age must go and vote for the President of the NRM and NRM leaders,” she appealed.

“Thank you Buyende for standing strong. May we continue standing as one nation under God, building a united and strong Uganda. God bless Buyende, God bless Busoga and God bless Uganda.”

The NRM First National Vice Chairman, Alhaji Moses Kigongo, praised the people of Buyende for their support and commended the First Lady for her devotion to the President and the country.

“Thank you Maama for staying with Mzee, supporting him and energizing him,” he said.

Alhaji Kigongo emphasized that the NRM’s longevity in power has been rooted in discipline and unity.

“What has kept us in leadership up to today is the discipline we carried from the bush. That discipline must be maintained. As leaders we must be exemplary and united as one movement,” he said.

He urged Buyende residents to support NRM candidates at all levels, from the national chairman to the grassroots.

“Whoever is carrying our flag, support them,” he added, noting that the party remains committed to protecting the peace established during the liberation struggle.

Rt. Hon. Anita Among, the Speaker of Parliament and NRM Second National Vice chairperson also pledged overwhelming support from the district.

“We pledge to you 98% of the votes in Buyende,” she said, praising President Museveni for promoting politics of ideology, not interests.

She also thanked Maama Janet for her continued prayers for peace in Uganda.

The Minister for Presidency and NRM parliamentary flag bearer for Budiope West, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda commended President Museveni for the visionary leadership and development programs in Buyende.

She also requested the people of Buyende to overwhelmingly vote for President Museveni and other party flag bearers in the forthcoming elections.

The Budiope East MP, Hon. Moses Magogo, thanked President Museveni for the transformation Buyende has experienced since attaining district status in 2010.

“Thank you, Your Excellency, for your wise leadership. You turned Buyende into a district, and today the population stands at 403,486,” he said.

Hon. Magogo noted that the extension of electricity to the district changed lives. “You reminded us about the national grid and you delivered it. What we once thought was a dream is now a reality,” he said.

He added that Buyende has become a safe home for people displaced by the Teso conflicts in the past.

“People have settled here, integrated and are progressing,” he said, also thanking the President for making Uganda safe enough that “one can move from one district to another at any time.”

Hon. Magogo appealed for inclusion in the livestock restocking programme following years of cattle rustling and thanked the President for acting on his request to upgrade Kamuli–Kaliro Road.

“You wrote to the Ministry of Transport, and we are hopeful because the road is already planned for works,” he said.

Buyende's progress:

Buyende, a district of 14 sub-counties and 73 parishes, is one of the areas heavily impacted by government development programmes especially the Parish Development Model, education investments, water infrastructure and electricity extension.

The district has so far received Shs 22.38 billion under the PDM, with 99.92% already disbursed to 22,461 beneficiary households.

Buyende has 83,497 households, meaning 26.9% have already received PDM funds.

Under Emyooga, the district has 36 SACCOs with 10,705 members, which have collectively received Shs 1.39bn to boost enterprise growth.

Out of the 14 sub-counties, Buyende currently has 2 HCIVs and 6 HCIIIs, leaving 6 sub-counties without any health facility.

The government plans to upgrade Kagulu, Nkoone and Ngandho HCIIs to HCIII status and construct new HCIIIs in Gumpi, Buyanja and Kidera.

On water, safe water access stands at 54.9%, with 300 out of 546 villages having a reliable source.

Key achievements include 72 boreholes drilled, multiple piped-water systems completed in Buyende TC, Irundu, Bukungu and Lyingo, solar-powered water system in Magogo Village and ongoing drilling of 12 new boreholes and construction of more piped systems.

Plans are underway to build water systems in Iringo, Bugaya and Kidera, plus medium-scale irrigation schemes in Nakawa A and Ngole.

It is also important to note that Buyende District is now fully connected to the national electricity grid, enabling business growth and improving living standards.

The event was attended by NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) members, Members of Parliament, religious and cultural leaders, as well as thousands of supporters.