Museveni rallies support in Rukiga, urges Ugandans to appreciate NRM contribution

_________________

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on Ugandans to renew their trust in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) by evaluating the party’s performance over the past four decades, saying the party’s legacy is anchored in visible and tangible contributions that have transformed the country.

Addressing thousands of supporters at Rushebeya playground in Rushebeya Sub-County, Rukiga District, President Museveni, who is also the NRM presidential flag bearer, on Tuesday, said Ugandans have every reason to vote for NRM because its record is grounded in achievements rather than promises.

President Museveni waves to his supporters as he arrives at Rusherebeya market grounds in Rwamucucu sub-county, Rukiga district to address his campaign rally. (PPU Photo)

“If you support NRM, you’re on the right path because NRM talks about the visible contributions it has made to Uganda,” President Museveni said during his address that centred on peace, development, infrastructure, and wealth creation. The rally formed part of his ongoing campaign trail in Western Uganda as he seeks re-election in the 2026 general elections.

President Museveni placed peace at the top of what he called the “seven contributions of NRM,” arguing that national stability remains the most critical achievement of his government.

“What is important is to tell you the seven contributions of NRM, starting with peace. Uganda is peaceful because of NRM,” the President said.

He pointed to ongoing instability in neighbouring countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where communities face daily insecurity. In contrast, he said, Ugandans have enjoyed decades of stability.

President Museveni waves to Rukiga political leaders as he arrives at Rusherebeya market grounds in Rwamucucu sub-county, Rukiga district to address his campaign rally. (PPU Photo)

“Yesterday in Kisoro, people spoke about the suffering their neighbours in the DRC continue to face due to insecurity. Ugandans today enjoy stability because of the peace built over the years,” he added, emphasising that peace has allowed the country to prioritise development, attract investment, and grow the economy.

The President said that when the NRM came into power in 1986, electricity supply in the western region was scarce and unreliable.

“When the NRM came into power, this side of Kabale had no electricity from Jinja. The power line stopped in Kasese, and Kabale relied on a small dam at Kariba,” President Museveni explained, according to a release from the Presidential Press Unit.

He noted that nearly the entire region is connected, with Rukiga boasting four of its six sub-counties on the national grid.

“Plans are underway to electrify Bukinda and Mparo sub-counties in the next term,” he said.

President Museveni who is also the NRM presidential candidate addresses his supporters in Rukiga district at a campaign rally held at Rusherebeya market grounds in Rwamucucu sub-county, Rukiga district. (PPU Photo)

Regarding safe water access, President Museveni said he was pleased to learn that Rukiga now has 83% rural safe water coverage, supported by gravity flow schemes, solar-powered irrigation, rainwater harvesting systems, and ongoing sanitation upgrades.

President Museveni also credited the NRM government with transforming Uganda’s road network, particularly linking major regions and border points.

“We worked on the road network from Kampala to Kabale up to the Katuna border. We also did the Kabale–Kisoro Road, then the road from Mbarara–Rukungiri–Kanungu up to Kihiihi,” he said.

He announced that new works will commence on the long-awaited Muhanga–Rwamucucu road, connecting Kamwezi, Rubale, Rukungiri, and eventually joining the Kanungu road. The announcement was met with loud applause, as road infrastructure remains one of Rukiga District’s key concerns.

President Museveni also addressed the challenges of balancing public expectations and limited government resources.

“I need you to help me with one thing, prioritisation of resources, and to do one thing at a time, not everything at once,” he said, while defending the government’s decision to increase salaries for science teachers before addressing the demands of arts teachers.

President Museveni who is also the NRM presidential candidate, addresses his supporters in Rukiga district at a campaign rally held at Rusherebeya market grounds in Rwamucucu sub-county, Rukiga district. (PPU Photo)

“We increased the salaries of science teachers because we need them urgently. We need all teachers, but we have to prioritise what benefits everybody before returning to the arts teachers. But the arts teachers want the salaries now-now,” President Museveni said.

Drawing parallels with the military, he argued that the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) prioritises equipment and welfare over salaries.

“In the UPDF, we prioritise equipment and the welfare of soldiers, not salary. They don’t have good houses; they still sleep in grass-thatched homes. In other countries, they prioritise salary first - that is why they can’t defend themselves,” he added.

Environment and Irrigation

President Museveni praised residents of Rukiga for protecting wetlands and avoiding environmental destruction.

He also promised a major government-funded irrigation project in the swamp to boost agricultural productivity.

President Museveni who is also the NRM presidential candidate, addresses his supporters in Rukiga district at a campaign rally held at Rusherebeya market grounds in Rwamucucu sub-county, Rukiga district. (PPU Photo)

“I’m going to start a big project on this swamp to enable you to start irrigation and get good yields like Dr Muranga of Bushenyi,” the President said, highlighting Dr Muranga’s success—harvesting 53 tons of bananas per acre annually—as evidence of what irrigation can achieve as opposed to 5 tons harvested by the rest of the people.

Household Wealth

President Museveni revisited a recurring theme in his campaigns: the distinction between wealth (a personal economic gain) and development (public infrastructure and services).

“Development is for everyone—like roads, schools, and hospitals. Wealth is personal and private,” President Museveni told the supporters, further reminding them that the wealth creation message began as early as the 1960s in the cattle corridor, long before he became President.

Rev Father Gaetano Batanyenda blesses President Museveni who is also the NRM presidential candidate during a campaign rally in Rwamucucu, Rukiga district. (PPU Photo)

He cited success stories such as George Matongo's project in Nakaseke, who produces 900 litres of milk daily and earns over sh21 million monthly despite living far from the nearest tarmac road.

“That is why we tell you to create wealth, and the tarmac road will find you,” he said.

President Museveni further revisited the 4-Acre Model, first introduced in the 1996 NRM manifesto, which guides small landholders on how to use limited land to generate consistent income through diversified enterprises such as coffee, fruits, pasture for zero-grazing, and food crops, in addition to poultry for eggs or piggery in the backyard, and fish farming for those near wetlands.

He spoke at length about Joseph Basangwa, a former LC5 aspirant in Kamuli whose poultry enterprise, JEKA Farm, became one of Uganda’s best examples of wealth creation. Basangwa produces 200 trays of eggs daily and earns sh20 million per day, translating into sh600 million per month and sh7.2 billion per year.

“Somebody who had no job is now employing 300 people. Wealth creates jobs,” President Museveni said.

The President also urged the people of Rukiga to take advantage of the Parish Development Model (PDM), which he said is designed to lift households out of poverty.

Rukiga District has so far received sh9.2 billion in PDM funds, with 99.46% of the money disbursed to 9,163 beneficiary households. The district has 29,495 households, meaning only 31% have benefited from PDM so far.

President Museveni tries out his chair and other gifts presented to him by Rukiga district NRM flagbearers Kiconco Katabazi (L) Simon Mutebi (C) and Sylvia Arinaitwe (R) during a campaign rally in Rukiga district. (PPU Photo)

“These remaining households must also get out of poverty. Even those already in the money economy should expand,” President Museveni said.

The President also emphasised that the real driver of employment is not the Government but agriculture, manufacturing, services and ICT.

“Uganda has a population of 50 million people, yet government jobs are only 480,000,” he said, adding that factories, like those in industrial parks, now employ over 1.3 million people. He cited Sino-Mbale Industrial Park, which hosts 75 factories, as an example of industrialisation creating new opportunities.

Free Education

The President said free education in government schools continues to be undermined by head teachers who impose illegal fees on vulnerable families.

“When I saw this, I launched the Presidential Skilling Hubs where youths train for free in carpentry, welding, tailoring, hairdressing, baking, leather work, and other practical skills,” he said.

He reiterated plans to recruit 5,000 new teachers to reduce the need for schools to charge extra fees to hire additional staff.

Turning to oil discovery, President Museveni said Uganda’s oil discovery was possible because of the NRM government.

President Museveni tries out his spear and shield presented to him by Rukiga district NRM flagbearers Kiconco Katabazi (L) Simon Mutebi (C) and Sylvia Arinaitwe (R) during a campaign rally in Rukiga district. (PPU Photo)

“Europeans were here for many years, but never discovered the country’s oil. It was during the NRM government that Uganda identified its commercially viable petroleum resources,” he said.

He assured Ugandans that oil development will drive Uganda’s economy to greater heights.

The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, also the NRM Second National Vice Chairperson, rallied Rukiga residents to vote overwhelmingly for President Museveni.

She thanked President Museveni for restoring peace, strengthening development, and improving livelihoods across the country. She criticised opposition politicians who she said lack the capacity to lead the country.

When he got to the podium, former Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda hailed President Museveni’s lifelong service to Uganda.

“He has offered all his life and energy to serve this country. He is the only candidate Ugandans should entrust with leadership,” Dr Rugunda said, attracting applause from the audience.

He attributed Uganda’s increased life expectancy, from 43 years in 1986 to 68 years currently, to NRM-led health interventions such as immunisation.

Presenting the district memorandum, Rukiga NRM Chairperson, Mr Frank Besigye Kyerere, reminded the President that in the previous elections, he garnered 81.8% of the votes cast in Rukiga.

“We expect at least 90% voter turnout, and we highly believe that more than 90% of these votes will be for His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni,” he said.

President Museveni and his daughter Patience Rwabwogo pose for a photo with Rukiga district NRM flagbearers during a campaign rally in Rwamucucu sub-county, Rukiga district. (PPU Photo)

He listed key achievements in the district to include: peace and security, improved rural water access, and wealth creation programs (PDM, Emyooga, UWEP, YLP, PWD initiatives).

Besigye presented several requests to the President, including the need for a district hospital, a technical school, and tarmacking of key roads, including Muhanga–Rwamucucu–Kisiizi and Rutobo–Kamwezi–Kyogo–Muhanga roads.