Kadaga commends Busoga residents for ‘sweeping’ NRM victory, outlines development agenda

JINJA - First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga has hosted a media briefing, celebrating what she calls a shifting political tide in Busoga region.

Surrounded by newly elected Members of Parliament, Kadaga, who was also re-elected for the Kamuli Woman MP seat, offered a glowing commendation to residents of Busoga for overwhelmingly supporting the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and President Yoweri Museveni in the recently concluded 2026 General Elections.

Kadaga made the remarks on January 18, 2026, in Jinja city and highlighted a significant upward trajectory in President Museveni’s performance across the region compared to the 2021 polls.

She said the massive sweep was a testament to the voters' renewed trust in the NRM leadership under the stewardship of President Yoweri Museveni.

The statistics of President Museveni’s votes presented showed remarkable gains:
Namutumba, Namayingo, Buyende, Kaliro, Bugiri, Bugweri, Luuka, Kamuli, Jinja district, Mayuge, Iganga and Jinja City rose from 56.4%, 47%, 59.8%, 56%, 46%, 36.7%, 45%, 44%, 40%, 43%, 37% and 34% respectively in 2021 to 64.1%, 63.8%, 63.2%, 61%, 54%, 53.7%, 52.8%, 50.1%, 50%, 47%, 43% and 37% respectively in 2026.

"We requested the Basoga to vote NRM overwhelmingly, and they responded by voting for flag-bearers. We are happy that performance has increased across the board," Kadaga said.

A new breed of leadership 

In a pointed critique of the outgoing leadership, Kadaga said the electorate had used the ballot to punish those who prioritised internal bickering over service delivery.

"The previous team was mainly concentrating on fighting wars in Busoga, and the electorate did not want this. I thank the Basoga for voting out the fighters. I am optimistic that this new team will do a good job," she said.

The new Busoga parliamentary block consists 42 members: 26 NRM, eight NUP, one Forum for Democratic Change and nine independents.

Kadaga emphasised that regardless of party affiliation, the group must act as a Busoga Caucus to demand the region's share of the national cake.

The Busoga Manifesto: Key Priorities for the 12th Parliament

Kadaga laid out a rigorous to-do list for the MP-elects, urging them not to waste their five-year term.

The priorities, include the completion of the Kimaka International Airstrip, the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) compensation for over 1,000 residents, working on the long-awaited Jinja-Kampala Express Highway, demanding the promised Industrial Parks to create local employment and working on the advancement of a nuclear power plant in Buyende district.

Otherpriorities are the reopening of Busoga University, establishing a Maritime University in Namasagali, operationalising the BKK Ferry linking Busoga to the Teso, addressing structural defects at the Jinja Central Market (where a floor was famously ‘eaten’ or omitted from original plans); and the delayed construction of the Iganga Central Market.

A Call for Unity:

Bugabula North MP-elect John Teira, who retained his seat, echoed Kadaga’s sentiments, highlighting the need for legal amendments to give local governments more control over funds and the urgent need to utilise the $600m scale-up project for rural electricity.

Closing the meeting, Kadaga revealed she has already held preliminary discussions with President Museveni regarding Busoga’s interests.

"We are left with President Museveni to acknowledge our efforts and fulfil his pledges," she concluded, adding that a team of opposition MP-elects joined them because they all for Busoga as a whole.