Museveni unveils NRM's new commitments for Kazo district

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National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate and the incumbent in the 2026 race, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, addressed a campaign rally in the western district of Kazo with a detailed breakdown of the NRM’s achievements over the past 40 years and the commitments contained in the 2026–2031 NRM Manifesto.

Accompanied by his daughter, Patience Rwabwogo Museveni, the President was received by a huge crowd of jubilant supporters as he continued his campaign trail across the Ankole sub-region. 

He told supporters that the NRM’s first and most important contribution to Uganda is peace, which he said was achieved by rejecting sectarian politics based on religion and tribe. 

“Because we rejected sectarianism, we were able to build a national political party, a national army, a national police force and ensure stability across the country."

On development, Museveni outlined progress in both economic and social infrastructure. 

He cited Kazo’s major paved road, part of the Lyantonde–Fort Portal corridor, as a key achievement under the NRM government. 

He pledged to extend water to Kazo the same way the government connected Kiruhura through Kakyeera and obtained water from the Kagera River for Mbarara.

Museveni also praised progress in the education sector, noting that Kazo now has 63 government primary schools and 254 private primary schools, compared to the years before NRM when many of these schools did not exist.

The district also has six government secondary schools and 32 private secondary schools, serving a combined total of more than 36,000 learners. 

He said this transformation is a result of deliberate NRM investment in social infrastructure, which must be protected and expanded.

In the health sector, Kazo has one Health Centre IV, seven Health Centre IIIs and 11 Health Centre IIs. Museveni urged residents to appreciate the progress made from the era when health facilities were scarce. 

He reaffirmed government plans to upgrade Kazo Health Centre IV into a District Hospital, along with upgrading Rwamuranga and Migina Health Centre IIs. 

Ongoing projects such as the construction of medical stores and a mortuary at Kazo HCIV, funded by the World Bank, were highlighted as timely additions for improving service delivery.

The President then spoke about the NRM’s third pillar — wealth creation — and why households must differentiate it from development. He reminded residents that development benefits everyone, but wealth belongs to each family. 

President Museveni reiterated the Four-Acre Model and criticised the continued practice of free-range grazing in Ankole. 

“When you do free grazing, one square mile can graze only 200 cows. But when you plant pasture, one acre can feed eight cows, meaning a square mile can handle 500 cows,” he explained, thus encouraging zero-grazing and warned against the habit of selling large ancestral lands and later buying more unproductive land elsewhere.

Museveni further hailed the transformation of Uganda’s dairy and coffee sectors, attributing success to Operation Wealth Creation under Gen. Salim Saleh and to farmers who embraced commercial agriculture.

He said the NRM’s fourth contribution — job creation — has flourished through commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and ICT, noting that factories already employ 1.3 million people, far more than the 480,000 employed in government institutions. 

He also cited the impact of skilling hubs that support youths who dropped out of school but have since gained practical skills and created employment for themselves and others.

The Speaker of Parliament and NRM's second national vice-chairperson, Anita Among, praised Museveni for the development he has brought to Kazo, including improved roads, expansion of the technical institute in the area, and strengthened public services. 

Western region NRM vice-chairperson, Jonard Asiimwe, told the rally that all the concerns raised by Kazo residents had been captured by the party and would be addressed.

He encouraged the district to continue supporting the NRM as the only party with a clear and consistent development agenda.

Kazo district NRM chairperson, Wilson Nkeija, thanked the President for elevating Kazo to district status and said government services had become more accessible as a result. 

He saluted the President for developments in education, health, electricity and other sectors, pledging that Kazo would vote for President Museveni “100 percent” in the upcoming elections.

Former Kazo County MP and minister, John Nasasira, also paid tribute to the President for his contribution to national liberation and development, noting that administrative elevation and improved service delivery have greatly benefited the people of Kazo. 

Nasasira also credited the NRM’s household-income approach for empowering families and reducing poverty levels.