‘Buhweju’s long-awaited road set for construction,’ President Museveni reveals

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President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, also the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Presidential flagbearer for the 2026 general elections on Saturday (Nov. 29), held his first campaign rally of the day in Buhweju District.

Addressing thousands of his supporters at Engaju Secondary School in Buhweju, the President announced that the long-awaited Bwizibwera– Nyakambu– Nsiika–Nyakashaka–Nyakabirizi road is going to be constructed.

President Museveni addressing NRM supporters at the campaign rally. (PPU)

“We have not worked on this road, but now the China Railway 18th Bureau Group is ready. They are securing sh30 billion to compensate those affected along the road, after which construction will start immediately,” he said.

President Museveni emphasised the value of peace in Buhweju, noting that the district borders Kasese, which has experienced insecurity linked to conflicts in neighbouring Congo.

“I once passed through Buhweju by car and found the people well-rested and enjoying their evening. That’s peace,” he said.

“Uganda was never easy to manage in terms of peace. So, when opposition leaders come asking, Can you manage peace, I say, Buhweju knows what NRM has done,” he added.

NRM supporters at the campaign rally. (PPU)

Recalling a recent meeting with local leaders, he narrated a story about a man named Ngoma Elanze, born in Congo in 1964 when Patrice Lumumba was killed, and the country was in turmoil.

“At one time, Uganda was once also ‘Ngoma Elanze’, but NRM restored peace,” he said.

The President noted that out of 348 villages in Buhweju, 261 now have safe water, meaning 75% of the district enjoys access to clean water.

On health, he highlighted that in 1980, Buhweju’s population was 34,000, growing to 167,000 today.

“This growth shows the success of our immunisation program. All these children are NRM children,” he said.

President Museveni. (PPU)

The crowd of NRM supporters listening to president Museveni. (PPU)

President Museveni also outlined plans to expand healthcare in the district; upgrade Nsiika HCIV to a General Hospital, upgrade Engaju HCIII to HCIV and construct new HCIIIs in Kashenyi-Kajani, Nyakaziba, Rubengye, and Rwengwe sub-counties.

Ongoing works include upgrading Bitsya HCII to HCIII, staff house construction at Kiyanja HCIII, and renovations at Karungu and Burere HCIIIs.

Education in Buhweju has also grown, with 56 government primary schools and 130 private primary schools, reflecting the community’s ability to invest in education.

He mentioned that the district has seven government secondary schools, with more under construction.

“All 140 sub-counties will eventually have government secondary schools,” President Museveni said.

The President also highlighted the story of Ms Mary Getrude Kyomugasho from Nyakashaka Town Council, a primary seven school dropout. With support from a government skilling program, she trained in tailoring and knitting, developed her skills, and started her own workshop.

“Today I have three machines and two employees. I pay them sh5,000 per day, and I continue growing my business. Thank you, President Museveni, for changing my life,” she said.

President Museveni praised Kyomugasho, saying, “She has got a skill and capital, and that is what creates jobs.”

The President emphasised that while Uganda has made enormous strides in development, household wealth must now be the focus.

He clarified the long-standing confusion between development and wealth creation, noting that urban centres enjoy vast infrastructure, yet some residents remain poor.

He outlined the four pillars of wealth creation, including commercial agriculture, manufacturing and factories, services such as hotels and transport and ICT.

President Museveni reminded the supporters that after securing peace, the NRM introduced the Four-Acre Model in the 1996 Manifesto as a practical pathway out of poverty.

He explained the model: one acre for coffee, one acre for fruits, one acre for pasture for dairy cattle, one acre for food for the family and then backyard poultry or piggery, and fish farming for communities near wetlands.

The President also handed over the NRM flags to aspiring Members of Parliament, LC V chairperson, councillors, and other party candidates in Buhweju District, formally endorsing their participation in the upcoming elections.

Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anitah Among was present for the campaign rally. (PPU)

Rt. Hon. Anitah Among, Speaker of Parliament and NRM’s Second National Vice Chairperson (Female), praised the President, saying: “We welcome you, Your Excellency, to Buhweju. Thank you for coming to the campaign in our district. We appreciate your leadership and the work you continue to do for our communities.”

Rt. Hon. Among specifically commended the President for including the Bwizibwera–Nsiika–Nyakashaka–Nyakabirizi road in the National Development Plan IV (NDP IV).

“The road is in dire need of repair, and the people of Buhweju are grateful knowing that work will commence soon,” she said.

She further thanked the government for the Buhweju Tea Factory, noting that Shs 310 billion has been provided to support tea farmers and processors.

She urged the farmers to continue improving production.

Eng. Jonard Asiimwe, the Vice Chairman-NRM Western Uganda, welcomed the President and assured him of strong mobilisation efforts in the district.

He highlighted achievements in coffee production, tourism, and mining, noting the need for improvements in the mining sector.

The Buhweju NRM Chairperson, Mr Godfrey Kabandize, presented a Memorandum of Understanding that shared detailed insights on the district’s demographics and development progress.

He noted that Buhweju has 14 Sub-Counties/Town Councils, 68 Parishes, and 348 villages, with a population of 167,921. In 2025, the district had 77,082 registered voters, an increase of 10,433 since 2021, and now operates 223 polling stations, up from 182.

Mr Kabandize also highlighted the Parish Development Model (PDM), noting that out of 35,305 households, 21,762 households (61.6%) have already benefited from PDM funds totalling sh20.8bn.

“The remaining 13,543 households (38.4%) are still to benefit, including those already engaged in the money economy,” he said.

The district has also made strides through Emyooga SACCOs, which now include 36 SACCOs with 10,020 members, receiving a total of sh1.46 billion from the government to support small-scale business and entrepreneurship.

Buhweju has 56 government primary schools and 103 private schools, yet 29 of 68 parishes still lack access to a government primary school.

On the secondary education front, the district has 7 government and 17 private secondary schools, enrolling 2,506 students. All government schools provide Universal Secondary Education (USE) and Universal Post-Ordinary Level Education and Training (UPOLET).

Three Seed Secondary Schools are currently under construction, which will reduce the number of sub-counties without a government secondary school from 7 to 4, a move hailed as critical for improving access to quality education across the district.

In healthcare, only one HCIV and nine HCIII facilities currently serve the district, leaving four sub-counties without a health facility.

Planned upgrades include Nsiika HCIV to a General Hospital, Engaju HCIII to HCIV, and the construction of new HCIIIs in Kashenyi-Kajani, Nyakaziba, Rubengye, and Rwengwe sub-counties. Ongoing projects such as the upgrade of Bitsya HCII to HCIII and renovations in Karungu and Burere health centres are expected to improve service delivery.

Access to safe water has improved significantly, with 261 out of 348 villages (75%) now served.

The government has completed multiple interventions, including protected springs, gravity flow schemes, and rainwater harvesting tanks. Piped water systems in Nsiika, Rwamwanja, Kajani-Kasheni, Rutehe, Kayonza, and Kyamuhunga now serve thousands of residents.

Efforts in water for production have also begun to pay dividends. Small-scale irrigation schemes in Kyisa (5 acres producing 5.5 tons of tea) and Kyesika (12 acres producing 2.5 tons of tea) now generate sh9.9 million and sh7 million annually, respectively, benefiting local farmers and demonstrating the potential of irrigation to boost livelihoods.

Meanwhile, Buhweju District is now fully connected to the National Electricity Grid, opening new opportunities for businesses, households, and public services.

Mr Kabandize concluded by reaffirming Buhweju’s support for the President.

“Through NRM structures, the people of Buhweju are ready to support you 100%. We are committed to ensuring that every development initiative succeeds in our district,” he said.

The event was attended by NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) members, Members of Parliament, religious and cultural leaders, as well as thousands of supporters.