Major road, power investments among Museveni pledges as Kigezi campaign starts

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President Yoweri Museveni has launched his Kigezi region campaign in Kisoro district with an appeal to voters to renew the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) mandate.

Museveni, on November 24, 2025, emphasised that the party remains central to maintaining stability and guiding Uganda toward high middle-income status.

Speaking at Shaaza Grounds, Museveni reminded the crowd that Opposition candidates should be assessed on what they have contributed to national development. He argued that when the NRM took power in 1986, Uganda faced shortages of basic goods such as sugar, soap, cement and beer and that these issues have since been resolved under his leadership.

The Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development (General Duties), also member of Parliament, Rubanda East Constituency, Hon. Henry Musasizi, waving the NRM flag as an aspirant for the next parliamentary election, as Museveni looks on. (Credit: Nelson Ahimbisibwe)

Campaign focus: Protecting national gains

The president said his campaign is anchored on protecting development gains achieved over the past four decades and ensuring disciplined progress toward middle-income status. He pointed to peace and security in the Kigezi border region as one of the key achievements attributed to government efforts and local cooperation.

Major road projects for Kisoro

Museveni outlined significant road investments in the region. He cited the completed Kabale–Kisoro road and ongoing construction on the Kisoro–Mgahinga road.

Additional roads slated for upgrading, according to the President, include:

Kisoro–Nkuringo–Rubuguri–Muko

Ruguri–Katojo–Muko

Katuna–Muko–Kamuganguzi

Hamulwa–Kerere–Kanungu

Butogota–Hamayanja–Ifasha–Ikumba

These five tourism-focused roads are expected to ease travel and boost tourism in Kisoro.

In the 2021 elections, Museveni received 90.5% of the vote in Kisoro, a level of support he attributed to the district’s long-standing confidence in the NRM.

Electricity and health services

According to Museveni, all sub-counties in Kisoro, except Nyarubuye, have been connected to electricity. He explained that the Government prioritised electrifying district headquarters before extending power to sub-counties and eventually to individual villages.

On healthcare, Kisoro currently has one general hospital, three health centres (HC) IV and 18 health centres III, though five sub-counties remain without a health facility. Government plans include upgrading four HCIIs—Bunagana, Gitovu, Gapfurizo and Kalehe—to HCIIIs, and constructing a new HCIII in Cyanika town council.

Gaps in education

Museveni identified gaps in the education sector, noting that 26 of the district’s 71 parishes have no government primary school, while 10 of the 24 sub-counties lack a government secondary school. He reaffirmed the policy goal of ensuring a government primary school in every parish and a secondary school in every sub-county.

Household wealth creation

The president emphasised the need for households to focus on income generation rather than relying solely on infrastructure development. He encouraged residents to use the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga funds to raise their incomes.

Kisoro District has received:

Shillings 17.8 billion in PDM funds for 18,307 households

Shillings 2.1 billion for beneficiaries in Kisoro Municipality

Shillings 3.8 billion disbursed to 78 Emyooga SACCOs with over 10,705 members

Museveni argued that household wealth creation should take precedence as communities leverage government programs to escape poverty.

Industry, jobs and skilling

He highlighted success stories from commercial farmers and small-scale industrialists, including a dairy farmer in Nakaseke earning 21 million shillings per month and a poultry farmer in Kamuli employing 300 workers and selling more than 100,000 eggs daily.

Museveni also noted that factories now employ around 1.3 million Ugandans, compared to the 480,000 employed by the government, pointing to the Sino-Mbale Industrial Park with more than 75 factories as an example of industrial expansion.

Youth trained at presidential skilling hubs are increasingly joining trades such as carpentry, tailoring, welding, construction and hairdressing, contributing to the growth of small and medium enterprises.

Appeal for continued support

Museveni concluded his campaign launch by urging the people of Kisoro to maintain their strong support for the NRM in the 2026 elections. He said the party aims to consolidate past achievements while accelerating progress in wealth creation, infrastructure development and access to essential services.

The Kisoro rally marked the beginning of the NRM’s campaign in the Kigezi region, where the party intends to showcase ongoing programs and future plans for local development.