NUP's Kyagulanyi pledges to transform Rwenzori’s cocoa industry

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National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, on Thursday (December 11) pledged a major overhaul of the cocoa industry to turn the Rwenzori region into a "chocolate hub".

While at it, he also lauded the Police for maintaining an "interrupt-free" approach to his campaigns in Bundibugyo and Ntoroko districts.

During a rally at Bundikahung Primary School in Bundibugyo, where he campaigned after touring Ntoroko, Kyagulanyi acknowledged the peaceful environment.

"I have always said it is the Police who bring confusion. As you can see today, we are here, and there is peace, and everyone is happy," he told supporters.

 Economic transformation

​The NUP leader vowed to create factories in Ntoroko and Bundibugyo, promising that trucks would no longer transport raw cocoa out of the region but processed chocolate.

"We will have factories here. Trucks that come here will not take your raw cocoa but chocolate," he said in Karugutu, Ntoroko, where he took his vote hunt to the cocoa-rich region.

Kyagulanyi's promise targets a key economic area. Uganda currently earns close to 150 million US dollars annually from cocoa exports, with Bundibugyo alone contributing nearly 100 million US dollars.

He argued that increasing local processing instead of selling most of the Uganda’s cocoa in raw form would significantly boost income per acre and create much-needed jobs.

"This is agriculturally rich land. We are going to change your current situation and restore the hope you have lost."

Healthcare and infrastructure

Kyagulanyi, a two-time presidential candidate, outlined other policy priorities for his government.

He was critical of the current administration for prioritising security over health, vowing to "put medicines in your hospitals" and replace security vehicles with ambulances. 

"Instead of tear gas, we shall have tablets to treat the sick," he said, adding that his government would also work towards reviving the railway to ease connectivity and spur economic growth in the area.

Kyagulanyi also pledged to fight corruption — which he estimates costs the country over 10 trillion shillings annually — to fund these infrastructure and social programmes.

He questioned the lack of transport infrastructure, promising to build at least one airport in every region to improve tourism and connectivity, noting that it should not, for instance, take ten hours to travel from Bundibugyo to Entebbe.