Museveni rallies support for NRM's Nabayiga in Kalangala Woman MP race

On Monday (June 22), Museveni graced a grand campaign rally for the NRM flagbearer at Kibanga Primary School playgrounds.

President Museveni welcomed by leaders at the campaign rally on Monday (June 22). (PPU)

Happy NRM supporters at the campaign rally. (PPU)

He said previous communication gaps had slowed development efforts in the area.

“Whatever you have said, I have heard, but it seems there is a problem; you voted for the opposition. I have never talked to any opposition leader from here."

He said that although much has been done in the area with stronger coordination, service delivery would improve if the NRM leadership is voted in the area.

“We have been trying to help with the issues but have had no clear leadership here. Now that NRM is here and Jajja is here, let us organize ourselves and send Nabayiga to Parliament."

NRM party flag-bearer Idah Nabayiga for Kalangala Woman MP waving the party flag after receiving it from the president. (PPU)

Museveni unveiled a wide-ranging government plan to improve transport, electricity, education, health and production in the Ssese Islands.

He noted that the government had progressively responded to long-standing challenges affecting island communities, especially transport infrastructure.

“I greet you all the people of Ssese Islands. I told you long ago that for a place like Kalangala, the issue of transport is very important. We worked on the Masaka–Bukakata Road. After that, the remaining issue is these other roads which we shall work on and the ferry,” said the NRM leader.

“We have MV Kalangala from Nakiwogo to Bukakata. I will look into the issue of timing. These ferries should have time; they cannot move whenever they feel like. They should have a known schedule."

Museveni announced plans to expand ferry services across the islands to improve connectivity and trade.

“We are going to add new ferries. One will come from Entebbe to Mwena. It will start from Kasenyi, Jana, Bubeke, Lwanabatya to Lulindi. That will be the third ferry.

“The second one we shall purchase will make the fourth ferry. It will go from Entebbe to Kyamuswa, passing through Nakiwogo, Kachanga, Luvu to Litoboka.

“After increasing the number of ferries, the one at Nakiwogo will be transferred here. That is the plan we have for ferries."

The President also noted that road improvements within the islands would follow as part of the broader transport plan.

On electricity, he acknowledged gaps in coverage in several island areas.

“Kyamuswa, Bufumira and some areas still do not have electricity. Mazinga, Mugoye and others — I will sit down with your leaders and we shall work on that.

“On education, the three parishes that do not have secondary schools will get them.

“On health, you are demanding a district hospital. We shall work on it because the people of Ssese need a hospital, and even tourists need it. We are going to ensure we get it,” said Museveni.

President Museveni also emphasized household income transformation through the Four-Acre Model, which promotes intensive farming on small landholdings.

He encouraged residents to embrace palm oil growing, intensive agriculture, and fishing as key income-generating activities.

Reflecting on Uganda’s fisheries sector, Museveni recalled earlier experiences dating back to his student days and the decline of fish factories before the NRM came to power.

He said efforts to revive the sector began after investors showed interest in fisheries development.

“When I entered the State House, an Italian minister called Francesco said he had $22 million and asked what he could do. I told him to use $14 million to construct a fish factory in Masese. Everyone then started showing interest."

The President ordered a review of fisheries policies to address concerns of fishing communities.

He promised to convene a meeting of leaders from Kalangala to further discuss fisheries reforms required to streamline and improve the involvement of the fishing communities.

President Museveni posing for a group photo with leaders. (PPU)

(PPU)

President Museveni posing for a group photo with leaders and supporters. (PPU)

On his part, Haruna Kasolo Kyeyune, the NRM Vice-Chairperson for Central Region (Buganda) and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Regional Cooperation), credited Museveni for strengthening the party’s support in Kalangala.

He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to consolidating support in the district ahead of the upcoming political contest.

NRM Deputy Secretary General, Rose Namayanja, thanked the President for his leadership and said the party had regained strong political ground in Kalangala.

She said government programmes, including the Parish Development Model (PDM), had helped improve household incomes, dismissing claims that the initiative would not work in island communities.

The Kalangala district LC5 chairperson, Agnes Lunkuse, expressed appreciation for the government support and highlighted key development gains.

She cited increased funding under the PDM, noting that Kalangala had received about sh6 billion benefiting over 5,000 people, and over sh1 billion under Emyooga reaching more than 10,000 beneficiaries.

Lunkuse also pointed to improvements in electricity connectivity through the marine cable to the national grid, improved water supply, and the completion of Mulabana Seed Secondary School, which is now operational.

However, she called for urgent upgrades in key services.

She appealed for the upgrading of Kalangala Health Centre IV into a hospital, citing the difficulty of transporting patients to Masaka across water.

The district chairperson also called for a dedicated electricity line for the islands, rehabilitation of Kalangala Central Market, and improved ferry scheduling.