In Manafwa, presidential candidate Museveni highlights NRM gains

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On Thursday (November 6), presidential candidate Yoweri Kaguta Museveni held his second campaign rally in the Bugisu sub-region at Bugobero High School, Bugobero town council in Manafwa district.

President Museveni accompanied by the speaker of parliament, Anita Among, welcomed by district officials upon arrival at the campaign rally. (PPU)

He presented the achievements and ongoing commitments of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government as outlined in the party’s manifesto.

He told the large crowd that he had come together with NRM leaders to present the seven key contributions the Movement has made to Uganda since 1986.

Peace and stability are the first.

“That peace you hear people talking about was not easy to bring. We were able to achieve it because we rejected sectarian politics of tribes and religion," said Museveni, who is seeking re-election.

President Museveni addressing the campaign rally at Manafwa. (PPU)

"When we recruit people into the army, we don’t mind about tribe or religion. That is why we have been able to build strong national institutions like the army, police, and others."

Development is the second contribution, under which are economic infrastructure, such as electricity, roads, and telecommunication, and social infrastructure, such as schools and hospitals.

NRM supporters attending the campaign rally in Manafwa. (PPU)

On education, the NRM leader noted that Manafwa has 61 government primary schools and 10 government secondary schools, with ongoing efforts to ensure that every parish has at least one primary school and every sub-county has a secondary school.

He said the Government is also constructing six new seed secondary schools in the district, which will reduce the number of sub-counties without government secondary schools from 23 to 17 once completed.

Museveni also reaffirmed his commitment to promoting free education in government schools, adding that the system that was introduced in 1996 has been frustrated by some head teachers who charge illegal fees.

"That is why I introduced the skilling hubs to show that free education is possible. You have seen the testimonies — children who had dropped out of school now have skills in tailoring, bakery, and other trades and are doing well."

On the health sector, the President said Manafwa currently has two health centre IVs and four health centre IIIs, leaving 26 sub-counties without a government health facility.

“To address this, Government plans to upgrade Ikaali Health Centre II to Health Centre III and construct new Health Centre IIIs in several sub-counties and town councils, including Masaka, Buwangani, Buyinza, Buwaya, Butta, Khabutoola, Bukoma, Sibanga, Nalondo, Bugobero, Nangalwe, Kimaluli, Buwagogo, Weswa, Butoto, Bukusu, Bunabutsale, Sisuni, Bunabwana, Makenya, Maefe, Butiru, Mayanza, Busukuya, and Bukhadala,” he said.

Ongoing projects include completion of staff houses at Bukewa HCIII and renovation of the Outpatient Department (OPD) at Ikaali HCII. 

The Government, Museveni said, will continue with immunisation programmes, equip all government health units, and construct more staff houses for health workers.

On water and sanitation, he revealed that Manafwa now has 1,262 out of 1,309 villages with access to safe water, representing 96% coverage — one of the highest in the country.

“Only 47 villages remain without access to safe water. We have constructed new piped water systems in Bubwaya, Majali, Lwakhakha, Buyinza, Butiru, Bubutu, and Bumbo, providing safe water to tens of thousands of people."

The President said additional boreholes have been drilled and rehabilitated, and several piped water projects are ongoing, including the Manafwa Town Council Water Supply System, which is already 76% complete.

On the other contribution of wealth creation, Museveni said it must go hand-in-hand with development.

“You people here in Bugobero have a good tarmac road, but you do not sleep on tarmac. When you go home, the poverty you left in the morning is still there. This is why we say that talking about development alone without talking about wealth creation is not good. 

"Wealth creation is through commercial agriculture using the four-acre model — even two acres can work if you do at least one of the seven activities in the model.”

He also emphasised that jobs originate from wealth creation [commercial agriculture and industrialisation] and not from government employment.

The NRM presidential candidate said Manafwa will soon benefit from the establishment of the Manafwa Industrial Park, citing the availability of minerals such as vermiculite and iron ore, which will support industrial growth and create jobs for the youth.

“My words for today are five: peace, development, wealth, jobs, and free education in Government schools.”

The NRM chairperson for Manafwa, Charles Peke Wolimbwa, hailed President Museveni for his "visionary leadership" and for supporting the Parish Development Model (PDM), which he said is transforming the lives of people in the district.

“Manafwa has fully embraced the PDM. Out of 47.8 billion shillings allocated, over 99% has already been disbursed to nearly 48,000 beneficiary households,” he reported, assuring the President of overwhelming support from the district.

President Museveni joined for a group photo by NRM flagbearers. (PPU)

President Museveni interacting with youth at the campaign rally. (PPU)