Bundibugyo will have a cocoa factory, Museveni tells residents

___________________

President Yoweri Museveni, who is also the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Presidential flag-bearer, has said the Government is to set up a cocoa factory in Bundibugyo district.

"One of the NRM government's contributions is job creation. Wealth belongs to individuals, families, and companies, but it is from that wealth that jobs come. I can see the people of Bundibugyo have already begun creating jobs, President Museveni said on Friday, December 5, 2025, while addressing NRM supporters at Bumadu Primary School Playground in Bundibugyo.

"I am going to set up a cocoa factory here in Bundibugyo. I once tried to convince the Americans to establish one, but they told me they heard that Uganda lacked milk and sugar, and I showed them that these products were in abundance and realised they were simply playing games. Now, we have identified a serious and wealthy investor who will take on the project," President Museveni told the NRM supporters at the campaign rally.

Museveni noted that since the 1960s, the NRM government has preached wealth creation, adding that in 1996, the Government introduced the four-acre model so that families could use even small pieces of land to grow both food and commercial crops.

The peace question

On the issue of peace, the President noted that the people of Bundibugyo who live along the country’s borders know the true meaning of peace.

"I am sure you speak with your Congolese neighbours and hear what war has put them through. Many lives have been lost, property destroyed, and years wasted. Uganda was once like the DRC, but when the NRM took leadership, we stabilised the country," Museveni said.

The President noted that the NRM government is focused on development, which is categorised into economic infrastructure and social infrastructure.

"Before we built the road from Kampala to Fort Portal, Uganda did not have money. I had to resort to barter trade with the Yugoslavians.

We gave them sorghum, and in return, they built the road up to Mubende, and later, we extended it to Fort Portal and eventually to Bundibugyo and Lamia at the border with the DRC," Museveni disclosed.

"I have noted that the road from Fort Portal to this side is now dilapidated. We are going to repair it. The challenge is that sometimes leaders want us to do too many things at the same time," President Museveni said.

On infrastructural development, Museveni noted that currently Bundibugyo has 107 government primary schools and 12 secondary schools, adding that the Government plan is to have a primary school in every parish and a secondary school in every sub-county.

Many have been completed, and more will be done, Museveni added.

On the issue of health, President Museveni noted that there is one government health facility in Bundibugyo district, adding that, as requested by the residents, it will be renovated.

" Our policy has always emphasised prevention more than cure. Look at me: for more than two months, I have been moving around the country, campaigning and holding two rallies every day, yet I have not fallen sick. Would I manage that if I were not healthy?" Museveni asked the NRM supporters.

"You, the youth, must understand that prevention is better than cure. Immunisation, hygiene, clean water, good feeding, and avoiding bad habits can prevent more than 80% of sicknesses.

We eliminated diseases like polio and measles. If you can, bring me one child suffering from polio," Museveni challenged the residents of Bundibugyo.

Museveni noted that the population of Bundibugyo has grown from about 50,000 to almost 300,000, adding that in the past, children were dying from diseases that can be prevented right now.

Museveni revealed that he has heard that there is a problem with treatment in some health centres because some health workers are stealing medicines.

"I want to assure you that we now have a solution to this theft of drugs, and when medicine goes missing, is it stolen from Congo or from here?" Museveni questioned.

He appealed to the residents of Bundibugyo to take politics seriously and further asked them to stop mixing it with tribes and religions.

"In the Constitution, we did not say vote your tribe mate. We said vote leaders who protect public interests. If leaders steal your medicines, question them. Report them. Hold them accountable," Museveni said.