PRESIDENT MUSEVENI CALLS FOR STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF ONE GOV’T PRIMARY SCHOOL PER PARISH POLICY

The President directs Presidency Minister on Lakwena victims President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reiterated the National Resistance Movement (NRM)’s key contributions to Uganda's socio-economic transformation. “We are here with other leaders to present to you the NRM manifesto for 2026-2031 and in that manifesto we point out to you that in the last 40 years, NRM has made seven (7) contributions to Uganda,” he said. The President, who was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, made the remarks today while addressing a campaign rally at Luuka district headquarters. He said the first contribution is peace. “You heard people talking about the Lakwena victims that meant war. You heard that when I was here, much of the time I was in fighting but now all those wars ended. And that's NRM’s first contribution to Uganda,” he noted. The President also directed the Minister for the Presidency to work with the Attorney General to solve the gratuity issue of the Lakwena war victims. “Regarding Lakwena victims, I want to direct the Minister of the Presidency to work with the Attorney General to solve this problem of Lakwena victims,” he said, after being informed by the Luuka District NRM chairperson, Hon. Stephen Kisa that the Minister recently called for a meeting of all the stakeholders and a clean list was submitted to the State House pending his decision on payment. “The task of cleaning the list was done jointly with Brig. Gen. Jacob Asimwe and a total of Shs5bn for the entire region was established,” Hon. Kisa said. On the other hand, President Museveni highlighted that the second contribution of NRM to Uganda is development. “Development has two sides; economic infrastructure which include the roads, electricity, telephones, piped water, railway as well social infrastructure which include schools and health centres and all the plans are here,” he explained. On education, President Museveni said Luuka has 89 government primary schools and seven government secondary schools. “Luuka has seven government secondary schools, yet the sub-counties are 12. So, we still have five with no school. We are building some two new seed schools, which will bring the number of sub-counties without government secondary schools to three,” he said. He however expressed concern over the uneven distribution of government primary schools among the parishes. “You already have 89 government primary schools more than the 64 parishes and the policy of the government is to have one primary school per parish but here in Luuka you still have 26 parishes which don't have a government primary school,” he said. “This means you did not strictly follow the other principle of one government primary school per parish. Please in future be very strict on this one. Don't put more primary schools in one parish before all of them have got.” On health, President Museveni said out of a total of 12 sub-counties in Luuka district, 1 has a HCIV and 8 sub-counties have HCIIIs. The sub counties without a Health facility of HCIIIs and above are three. The President also unveiled plans to upgrade Busalamu HCII to HCIII in Busalamu T/C, Bulaga HCII to HCIII and Kalyowa HCII to HCIII in Kyanvuma TC. On water, President Museveni said out of 305 rural villages in Luuka District, 187 have access to a safe water source, representing coverage of 62 percent. “Now the big project we have here is the roads from Iganga, Bulopa, through here to Kamuli, we are concentrating on this,” he said. The third contribution, the President said, is wealth. “Many people who listened to our wealth creation advice are now quite doing well. Everybody can have wealth wherever he is in Uganda as long as there's peace,” he said. President Museveni said the NRM has been able to guide and support Ugandans to get out of poverty through various programs, with the most recent one being the Parish Development Model (PDM). President Museveni also emphasized the four-acre model, as one of the ways of fighting poverty and creating wealth. He said in this model, one acre is for coffee, another acre for fruits, the third acre for pasture for zero-grazing cows for milk and then the fourth acre for food crops. In the backyard, a farmer can do poultry for eggs, piggery and fish farming for those near the wetlands. “Our calculation was that If you do this, you would be rich even if you have a small piece of land,” he added. President Museveni also advised that those with big pieces of land could do extensive agriculture where they can grow low value crops like sugarcane, tobacco and maize. He said these low value crops, if grown on a large scale, can give you some good money. The fourth contribution is job creation and here the President emphasized that jobs cannot be separated from wealth creation. “The government employs 480,000 people out of a population of 50 million, while factories already employ 1.3 million, three times more than the government,” he said. The President also handed over the NRM flags to aspiring Members of Parliament, LC V chairperson, councillors, and other party candidates in Luuka District, formally endorsing their participation in the upcoming elections. Maama Janet implored the people of Luuka to vote for President Museveni and other NRM candidates in the forthcoming elections for more development. “For me it gives me a picture of where God has brought us from as a country and I can't stop to thank God for Uganda today and that is why I must say to you that its right and good to vote for NRM so that it can continue to build this country and we can continue to improve so that our people live in a better environment,” she said. The First Lady also reaffirmed the government's commitment to provide free education in government schools. “If that picture is not perfect yet, that's policy, that's where we are driving to,” she said. The NRM First National Vice Chairman, Al-Hajji Moses Kigongo, urged party leaders to prioritise discipline as they seek support from the public. He cautioned against intimidation or foul language. He encouraged leaders to engage communities respectfully, explain what the NRM stands for, and stand firmly behind the President and all NRM flag bearers. The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Affairs, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, highlighted the importance of women’s economic empowerment, noting that Busoga women had not fully benefited from some programmes, including the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW). GROW is a government initiative supported by development partners to increase women’s access to finance, expand their enterprises, improve household incomes, and promote gender equality through grants, savings groups, and mentorship. Rt. Hon. Kadaga said women in Busoga are hardworking and ready to utilise such funds to improve their livelihoods, urging the government to ensure equitable access. She also relayed community requests presented earlier by the district leadership and asked residents to support President Museveni so that these issues can be addressed. Luuka district NRM chairperson, Hon. Stephen Kisa informed the President that Luuka has benefited well from the key government programs and assured him that the district is right behind him and NRM. “Luuka District is benefiting well from UPE and USE. The government has provided capitation grants and recruited staff in these schools,” he said. “However, some of the primary schools will require urgent renovations and facial lift to improve the learning environment.” On behalf of the people of Luuka, Hon. Kisa expressed gratitude to President Museveni for the fulfillment of the government pledge to upgrade and tarmac the Iganga-Luuka-Bulopa-Kamuli road which is a stretch of 56km and costing approximately 368 billion shillings. On the matter of the sugarcane factory, Hon. Kisa thanked President Museveni for starting the process of buying the Mayuge Sugar Factory for the Sugarcane Farmers in Busoga. “Sir, the government bought land in Bukoma Sub-County intended to fulfill the presidential pledge of constructing a sugar factory for the farmers. Sir, in the event that the government is now buying Mayuge Sugar Factory, we request that the Luuka project be turned into a value addition factory to add value to the wastes coming from the Mayuge sugar factory including bagasse for making electricity. Sir, Luuka is one area where power outage is persistent (2-3 days per week throughout the year),” he said. “Secondly, Sir; the sugarcane out-growers request that the funds you promised them to buy fertilizers be deposited directly on their respective SACCOs accounts.” Hon. Kisa also revealed that there is still a challenge with the Presidential directive to the Millers of stopping to charge the 5% waste management fees to the farmers. “On August 6, 2025, you directed on this matter but this has not been effected. Lastly, on this; Sir; the Sugarcane farmers report the challenge of the Sugar Council that has failed to address their needs. The Council is making resolutions and recommendations without inputs of the farmers and which affect the farmers. The Out-growers Association Chairperson is present at this rally, and he can clarify on the matter, if permitted Sir.” Hon. Kisa further reminded the President about the promise to have a palace built for the Chiefdom of Tabingwa. “Your Excellency, Luuka District Administration is hosted by Tabingwa of Luuka. We are indeed using his grounds here. A promise was made to have a palace built for Tabingwa but this has not materialized. The Tabingwa is a unifying factor for Luuka, Busoga and Uganda at large.We are optimistic that this can be handled by you; your Excellency.” Hon. Kisa noted that Luuka district had donated land for the construction of a regional Sports Stadium to enhance talent development in Busoga. He explained that Busoga has produced numerous national football stars. In his response, the President assured that the project will be put into consideration. The event was attended by NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) members, Members of Parliament, religious and cultural leaders, as well as thousands of supporters.

2025-12-20

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI RAISES CONCERNS OVER NUP-LINKED VOTE IRREGULARITIES IN KAMPALA

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has raised concerns over what he described as serious vote irregularities involving the National Unity Platform (NUP) in Kampala, saying the incidents marked a worrying shift in the conduct of elections. Speaking during a live radio talk show hosted from his Kisozi farm yesterday, the President said the alleged practices went beyond previous experiences of electoral malpractice and required stronger safeguards. “In Kampala, there was ballot stuffing, but this time they went further. Fake ballot papers were printed on Nkrumah Road about one million and about 1.7 million votes were brought in from Dubai. Altogether, that is about 2.7 million votes,” President Museveni said. The live broadcast was moderated by Mr. Ronald Africa of Sure FM and brought together journalists from the Greater Mubende sub-region. President Museveni’s response followed a question from the programme moderator, Mr. Ronald Africa who asked him to clarify remarks he recently made during his campaign rallies regarding alleged vote irregularities involving the NUP party. The President placed the discussion in historical context, noting that election challenges have existed since Uganda’s early post-independence years. “Vote rigging has been there since 1962,” he said, recalling a period when political parties operated separate ballot boxes, a system that encouraged multiple voting and ballot stuffing. He explained that following the disputed 1962 elections, Uganda did not hold another national vote for 18 years until 1980. After the NRM came to power, reforms were introduced to improve transparency and accountability in elections. “We introduced open lining-up, one ballot paper and one ballot box with candidates’ pictures. These measures can work, but they depend on vigilance,” the President said. Looking ahead, President Museveni said the government is strengthening the use of biometric voter verification machines to address emerging challenges. “Even if your finger is eroded, your eyes are not eroded. Biometrics will help stop ballot stuffing,” he said, responding to concerns raised about manual labourers. On the conduct of security personnel during elections, the President cautioned against the use of excessive force, describing it as unnecessary and avoidable. “Beating people shows lack of patience. Torture during elections is not necessary, and I will engage the security forces on this,” he said. At the same time, President Museveni emphasised that maintaining peace remains a national priority. “No one will be allowed to disturb Uganda’s peace. Those who attempt to cause disorder will be dealt with according to the law,” he said. He also responded to claims that security agencies are overstretched during public disorder. “I have heard statements suggesting there are few soldiers and many rioters. Peace and order are maintained through organisation, not numbers alone,” the President said. Turning to development, President Museveni said the Greater Mubende sub-region has registered progress, but gaps remain due to leadership and prioritisation challenges. “Kasanda has only 34 percent access to safe water. That reflects leadership choices,” he said, contrasting it with areas that have recorded higher coverage. He highlighted improvements in electricity, roads, telecommunications, schools and health centres, noting that places such as Kyankwanzi now have infrastructure that did not exist previously. On health, the President attributed population growth in the region to government immunisation programmes. “Mityana now has over 400,000 people. The population increased because children are surviving,” he said. He added that the government could achieve more if public resources were used in a focused and disciplined manner. “We prioritise and do things step by step. We do not scatter budgets,” he said, pledging continued work on the Kakono–Manyi–Mubende–Sekanyonyi–Busujju road. On job creation, President Museveni reiterated that the government cannot be the main employer in a country of 50 million people. “Government jobs are about 480,000. Real jobs come from wealth — factories, commercial agriculture, services and ICT,” he said, noting that new factories now employ about 1.3 million Ugandans. He also defended free education, attributing school dropouts to the reintroduction of fees. “When we introduced UPE, charges came back, and that led to dropouts,” he said, urging young people across political divides to support the policy of free education. Those who dropped out, he added, are being absorbed into Presidential Skilling Hubs. On markets, President Museveni cautioned against inward-looking economic thinking. “None of the opposition presidential candidates talk about the regional market. That thinking is dangerous,” he said, stressing the importance of economic integration. “Our elders taught us ‘Uhuru na Umoja’ freedom and unity. Being a big fish in small ponds weakens us,” the President said.

2025-12-18

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI ASSURES FLOOD-AFFECTED KAMPALA TRADERS OF COMPENSATION

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has assured traders affected by the recent Kampala floods that the government will compensate them for losses incurred, saying the matter is not subject to debate. “We are going to go through that report. We have to compensate you because you made losses. There are no arguments about that,” the President said. He made the remarks yesterday while meeting leaders of traders at his Kisozi Farm. They were led by Mr. John Kabanda, president of the Federation of Uganda Traders Association (FUTA). President Museveni's remarks come in the wake of severe flooding that hit Kampala over a month ago, worsening an already fragile situation along the Nakivubo Channel. Barely three weeks after the October 31 downpour, another heavy rainfall around November 19–20 caused fresh flash floods in low-lying parts of the city, including the Container Village and the Queensway interchange. Traders claim to have lost property worth billions. Together with the city officials, they attributed the flooding to ongoing construction works along the Nakivubo Channel, which narrowed key drainage pathways. Addressing traders’ broader concerns, President Museveni also clarified the government's tax policy, particularly following recent engagements with young entrepreneurs who he referred to as Gen Z. “Some of the Gen Z told me they want to join business but complain about taxes. I explained to them that our taxes are intentional, not accidental,” he said. The President emphasized that taxation largely targets imported and luxury goods, not local trade. “If you are selling bananas, there are no taxes—except occasional market dues. Taxes are mainly on imported products like perfumes and alcohol,” he explained. President Museveni urged traders to embrace internal trade and production, stressing that import substitution remains a key pillar of Uganda’s economic strategy. “If you don’t want to pay taxes, don’t import. We need taxes to run the economy. Go into internal distribution,” the President said, noting that increased local production would naturally reduce importation over time. President Museveni also thanked traders for their continued support of the NRM and pledged to further engage their leaders to address outstanding issues. On her part, Ms. Kellen Kiconco, the Presidential Advisor on Tax Matters, commended Kampala traders for choosing dialogue over confrontation, describing them as key partners in revenue mobilization and national stability. “I appreciate these traders because they are our first tax collectors. When I first met them, they were planning to demonstrate across the country, but they chose dialogue instead of violence,” Ms. Kiconco said. She thanked the traders for preserving the peace which the President worked hard to secure, noting that they had documented their challenges and formally submitted them to the State House for consideration. Ms. Kiconco further revealed that the traders had adopted a collective position to support President Museveni in the upcoming elections. “They organized their issues, presented them formally, and told me that on January 15, 2025, they will vote for you,” she said. On the other hand, Mr. Kabanda underscored peace and freedom of expression as the foundation of their businesses. Mr. Kabanda also thanked the President for maintaining stability in the country despite challenges faced by the trading community. He said traders trust the government’s structures and have already begun mobilization efforts across the country, including Fort Portal, Mbarara, Masaka, Jinja and Mbale, with plans to intensify door-to-door engagement within Kampala. “We are with you. Even those of us with small businesses are confident they will grow because of the peace and security you have provided,” Mr. Kabanda said. He added that traders were aware of attempts by some groups to divert their intentions but reaffirmed their resolve to remain focused. “We will not allow anyone to divert us,” he said. Traders also thanked the President for the swift government response following the recent floods, noting that both the Minister for Kampala and the Prime Minister personally visited the affected areas. Mr. Aman Kavuma, a trader who was affected by floods, recalled the President’s directive after the floods that traders’ concerns be addressed without resorting to lengthy court processes. “We were affected, many shops were destroyed, and names of flood victims were registered. We are waiting for your guidance because you brought peace,” Mr. Kavuma said. Another flood victim, Ms. Allen Kisakye, testified that the floods destroyed all her property, underscoring the urgency of government intervention and compensation. The event was attended by Hon. Minsa Kabanda, the Minister for Kampala and Metropolitan Affairs, Mr. John Musinguzi Rujoki the Commissioner General of Uganda Revenue Authority.

2025-12-17

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI FAULTS KASSANDA'S SLOW DEVELOPMENT ON POOR LEADERSHIP, URGES VOTERS TO REJECT NON-PERFORMING OPPOSITION LEADERS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni today held a campaign rally at Bukuya Town Council grounds, Kassanda District, where he urged residents to avoid voting opposition politicians, explaining that they cannot deliver effective services to the people they lead. Addressing supporters who braved heavy rains to attend the rally, President Museveni presented the NRM Manifesto and highlighted the seven key contributions the NRM has made to Uganda over the last 40 years, beginning with peace. He noted that while many African countries are grappling with conflict, Uganda has enjoyed four decades of stability because the NRM rejected politics of sectarianism based on religion, tribe, gender, or age. The President said development is the second major contribution of the NRM, explaining that it covers both economic and social infrastructure such as roads, electricity, water, schools, and health facilities. He cited major road projects including Myanzi–Kiboga–Mubende and Busunju–Kiboga–Lwamata, and revealed plans to upgrade the Myanzi–Kassanda–Kiboga road. However, he attributed delays in some projects to leaders elected by the people who fail to prioritise national development programmes. On electricity, President Museveni said Kassanda has registered progress, though some sub-counties are still not connected. He reiterated the NRM’s plan to extend electricity to every sub-county. He expressed concern over poor water access in Kassanda, saying the district is lagging behind others partly due to electing leaders who do not effectively follow up on service delivery. Touching on social services, the President reaffirmed the government's policy of ensuring at least one government primary school per parish and one government secondary school per sub-county, pledging support to areas still lacking these facilities. President Museveni further emphasised wealth creation as the third pillar of the NRM, noting that while infrastructure benefits everyone, wealth creation starts at the household level. He encouraged residents with small landholdings to adopt the four-acre model and engage in the recommended seven agricultural enterprises to improve household incomes. President Museveni also highlighted job creation as another key NRM contribution, explaining that employment opportunities mainly come from commercial agriculture, industrialisation, services, and ICT. He urged urban youth to take advantage of skilling centres to acquire practical skills and start their own businesses. The NRM Vice Chairperson for Central Region, Hon. Haruna Kassolo, thanked the President for the visible development in Kassanda despite its status as a relatively new district. Kassanda District NRM Chairperson Dr. Michael Bukenya pledged 90 per cent support for President Museveni and the NRM in the forthcoming elections, admitting that voters made mistakes in the previous polls which they are determined not to repeat. He raised concerns over electricity distribution, noting that some areas have transformers without power, and appealed for the establishment of a technical school to equip the district’s growing youth population with skills. Dr. Bukenya also highlighted persistent land conflicts in Kassanda and requested a dedicated land fund to address the challenge.

2025-12-17

“SEND ME PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND MY GUIDANCE SO THAT WORK CAN MOVE FASTER,” PRESIDENT MUSEVENI TELLS MITYANA AS HE CONCLUDES GREATER MUBENDE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged voters in Mityana District to rally behind the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and elect leaders who understand and support his approach to governance, warning that poor leadership choices have slowed development in some parts of the country. Addressing a massive campaign rally at Ssaza Grounds in Mityana today, President Museveni said the pace of development in the district has been undermined by leaders who prioritise personal benefits over national development goals. The rally marked the conclusion of his campaign tour in Greater Mubende as he seeks re-election as NRM presidential flagbearer for the 2026 general elections. “We have always had plans to work on the road from Kanoni–Manyi–Mityana and Ssekanyonyi up to Busunju, and we are going to work on that road. It has been delayed because of the people you send me to represent you,” President Museveni told cheering supporters. He explained that his leadership philosophy, shaped by his experience as a guerrilla fighter, is rooted in strict prioritisation of essential sectors such as security, infrastructure, health, and education. According to the President, some legislators have failed to grasp this approach, instead pushing for high administrative costs that divert resources from development projects. “As a guerrilla, I go by prioritisation,” he said. Mityana District comprises five constituencies — Busujju County, Mityana North, Mityana South, Mityana Municipality, and the District Woman Member of Parliament. Of these, four are currently represented by opposition legislators from the National Unity Platform (NUP) and the Democratic Party (DP). Only Mityana North is represented by an NRM legislator, Hon. Nsegumire Muhamadi Kibedi. President Museveni argued that electing opposition MPs has affected effective follow-up on government programmes, leading to delays in key infrastructure projects. “These people you send me only come to eat what has been done. They disturb implementation because they want to touch everything. Please send me people who understand my guidance so that work can move faster,” he said. The President recalled the state of infrastructure in Mityana and the wider Mubende region before the NRM came to power, saying significant progress has been made despite current challenges. “When we came into government, the tarmac road used to stop in Mityana, and even that road was old. We have redone it twice. Beyond Mityana towards western Uganda, there was no tarmac at all,” President Museveni said. He revealed that the original road from Mityana to Mubende was constructed with assistance from Yugoslav contractors, who were paid partly in agricultural produce such as soya beans. The road was later extended to Fort Portal and up to the Democratic Republic of Congo border. Health infrastructure gaps: On health services, President Museveni acknowledged existing gaps in Mityana District, noting that only one of the district’s 17 sub-counties has a hospital. Three sub-counties have Health Centre IVs, while 14 have Health Centre IIIs. Three sub-counties currently have no health facility at all. To address these gaps, he announced government plans to upgrade Kasikombe Health Centre II to a Health Centre III in Ssekanyonyi Sub-County. He also pledged to construct new Health Centre IIIs in Banda and Zigoti Town Councils. “These are the things we must prioritise. Health services are essential for our people,” he said. Water coverage: On access to clean water, President Museveni commended Mityana District for achieving relatively high coverage. According to district statistics cited by the President, 528 out of 613 rural villages, about 86 percent, have access to a safe water source, leaving 85 villages without coverage. “You are doing well on clean water, but we must increase capacity for irrigation so that farmers can get higher yields,” President Museveni said. To underscore the importance of irrigation, the President showcased a video of Dr. Florence Muranga’s banana plantation in Bushenyi District, where irrigation has enabled yields of up to 53 tonnes of matooke per acre annually, compared to the national average of five tonnes per acre. “This is what modern agriculture can do. That is why we want irrigation everywhere,” he said. President Museveni also described peace as the first and most important contribution of the NRM to Uganda’s progress, urging residents to safeguard stability. “You all know what peace means. Look at what is happening in other African countries. Here, we have peace throughout Uganda, and that is why development is possible,” he said, warning that political indiscipline could jeopardise the stability the country has enjoyed for decades. Development vs Wealth creation: The President reiterated his long-standing message distinguishing development from wealth creation, saying the two are often confused. “Development is for all of us. Wealth creation is personal. It is at the household and individual level,” President Museveni said. He explained that the government focuses on public goods such as roads, electricity, schools, and health facilities, while citizens must actively engage in income-generating activities to create wealth. To illustrate, President Museveni revisited the four-acre model introduced in the NRM’s 1996 manifesto, designed for households with limited land. Under the model, one acre is allocated to coffee, another one for food crops, the third one for fruits, and the fourth acre for pasture under zero-grazing, complemented by backyard enterprises such as poultry, piggery, and fish farming. President Museveni commended Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Kiyemba, the parish priest of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Busunju, a model farmer who has successfully implemented the four-acre model. Fr. Kiyemba’s farm serves as a demonstration site for other farmers in the area. “He fits directly in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, who preached, healed the sick, fed the hungry, and also worked with his hands as a carpenter,” the President said. “We in the NRM don’t just talk. We support you in creating wealth. I want all of us to get out of poverty,” he added. Jobs: On employment, President Museveni dismissed claims that jobs are primarily found in government, noting that public service employs only about 480,000 people in a country of over 50 million. “Jobs are in commercial agriculture, manufacturing, artisanship, services, and ICT,” he said. He cited Johnson Basangwa, a large-scale poultry farmer whose enterprise employs more than 300 workers and earns an estimated Shs20 million per day from egg sales. “That wealth has produced jobs. That is the difference between politics and economics,” President Museveni said. He also highlighted industrial parks such as Namanve, which hosts more than 273 factories employing over 24,000 workers, and the Sino-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park, which employs about 12,000 people. At the same rally, NRM First National Vice Chairperson Alhajji Moses Kigongo thanked residents for their continued support but cautioned party members to maintain discipline during the campaign period. “We need many votes from Mityana, but we must be disciplined. This peace we enjoy was ushered in by the NRM,” Alhajji Kigongo said. The NRM Vice Chairperson for the Central region, Hon. Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo, and the NRM Chairperson for Mityana District, Mr. Kintu John, also addressed the gathering, which was attended by several Cabinet ministers, MPs, NRM Secretariat officials, and party flag bearers at various levels. After concluding his Greater Mubende tour, the NRM candidate is scheduled to continue his campaign trail in Greater Masaka on Thursday, with rallies planned in Lyantonde and Rakai districts as he seeks a fresh five-year mandate.

2025-12-17

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI ENGAGES NRM YOUTH FROM NORTHERN REGION, CALLS FOR PROSPERITY-DRIVEN MOBILIZATION

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni yesterday called on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) youth leaders in Northern Uganda to focus their mobilisation on peace, prosperity, health and skills development. While meeting the group which was led by Hon. Hamson Denis Obua, NRM Vice Chairperson for Northern Uganda and Government Chief Whip, at his Kisozi farm, the President said security and economic empowerment remain the foundation of Uganda’s progress. The NRM youth leaders were drawn from Lango, Acholi and West Nile sub-regions. President Museveni emphasized that political mobilisation should go beyond slogans and instead demonstrate how Ugandans, especially the youth, can achieve prosperity. “The mobilisation you should do is to show everybody, including the youth, how they can be prosperous. The first thing you should tell them is to support NRM because they need security,” President Museveni said. He reminded the youth of Uganda’s past instability, urging them to use history to explain the value of peace. “You can give the history of Uganda and show pictures of what happened in the 1980s, the dead bodies and chaos and compare that with countries like Sudan, Congo and Somalia,” he said. President Museveni cautioned young people against confusion and misinformation, stressing that youth are capable of understanding national issues deeply. “You should stop confusing yourselves. You are not babies. You are people who should understand even more than elders. Before lightening the moment: When you see me wearing a hat, it is Muhoozi who told me to put one on because I have a bald head.” President Museveni also warned against irresponsible lifestyles, emphasizing health as a pillar of productivity. He reminded the youth that the government and parents fulfilled their responsibility through childhood immunisation. “We immunised you when you were young together with your parents. That is why you don’t have polio and measles. All the immunisation was done—thank the government and your parents,” he said. He added that adulthood comes with responsibility. “Now it is time for you to immunise yourselves. Life is in your hands. If you are irresponsible, you will suffer from the health point of view,” President Museveni cautioned. President Museveni strongly defended the Universal Primary and Secondary Education (UPE/USE) policy, blaming sections of the local elite for weakening it. “The problem we have is the local elite—teachers, PTAs and foundation bodies. They did not care much about the poor people,” he said. He criticised the reintroduction of school charges, saying this contributed to school dropouts. “When we brought UPE, the elites did not follow it up. They brought back school charges, and that is how we got dropouts,” President Museveni explained. He urged the youth to defend the policy across the political divide. “Whether you are in opposition or not, tell the people to support free education. Those who dropped out, I am now taking them to the Presidential Skilling Hubs,” he said. President Museveni further explained that once peace, health and education are secured, the next challenge is employment. “Once we have peace, health and education, the next question is jobs,” he said. He noted that jobs will mainly come from four sectors: commercial agriculture (crops, livestock and fisheries), manufacturing, artisanship, services and ICT, supported by industrial hubs across the country. He reiterated the importance of the four-acre model for household wealth creation. President Museveni urged the youth to take interest in government budgeting priorities. “My priority sectors of budgeting are defence and security, roads, electricity, schools, health centres and wealth funds,” he said. He also endorsed door-to-door mobilisation at village level, saying it is more effective than previous methods. On industrial parks, he advised communities to avail sufficient land. “If your people want industrial parks, tell them we need land at least a square mile,” President Museveni said. He added that youth SACCOs will support such initiatives and pledged continued investment in sports infrastructure, noting that more stadiums will be constructed. Dr. Mercy Lakisa, the Vice Chairperson for the Northern Region of the NRM Youth League, thanked President Museveni for sustained engagement with young people across the country, saying the youth feel recognised and included in the national development agenda. “We thank you for not forgetting us. You started meeting youth groups across the country, and we appreciate you for considering us in your busy schedule. We pray that the Lord continues to guide you as you lead this country forward,” Dr. Lakisa said. She welcomed the ongoing parish-level mobilisation, noting that the youth, being the largest population group, require targeted facilitation to carry out effective mobilisation. “We appreciate the parish mobilisation that is ongoing, but the youth who are doing the mobilisation need a special package because we are the biggest population,” she said. Dr. Lakisa described NRM youth as the backbone of grassroots mobilisation, particularly in responding to opposition narratives. She thanked President Museveni for the establishment of industrial parks, citing the Mbale Industrial Park, which she said is employing over 10,000 young people. “We thank you for the Mbale Industrial Park that is employing over 10,000 youth, and we request that these industrial works be extended to other sub-regions,” Dr. Lakisa said. Dr. Lakisa also applauded the rollout of Presidential Skilling Hubs in the northern region, saying they are already yielding results. However, she appealed for expanded access. “We thank you for the Presidential Skilling Hubs that have been introduced in our zones. We request that the intake of beneficiaries be increased and, if possible, that the skilling hubs be extended down to district level,” she said. She further requested increased support for NRM Youth League SACCOs, saying they remain a key pillar for youth economic empowerment. “We request for your support under the National NRM Youth League SACCOs, and we trust that there will be more support,” she added. Dr. Lakisa also asked for broader access to leadership and ideological training at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) to equip youth leaders with more ideas and skills. On sports development, Dr. Lakisa thanked President Museveni for continued investment in the sector, particularly the construction of Akii Bua Stadium in Lango Sub-region, which she said is progressing well. “We thank you for your continued support towards sports development. The construction of Akii Bua Stadium is underway, and our region is blessed with diverse talent,” she said. She appealed for similar infrastructure in other parts of Northern Uganda. “After AFCON, we request that West Nile and Acholi sub-regions also get stadiums,” Dr. Lakisa added. She noted that many youth leaders are beneficiaries of Universal Primary and Secondary Education (UPE/USE), which she credited for empowering the current generation. She concluded by reaffirming the youth’s commitment to President Museveni’s leadership and electoral victory. “We are very confident that we shall deliver come 15th January 2026. Where we are right now, President Museveni is the most fit individual to lead this country. We look forward to delivering over 95 per cent victory. Long live the President,” she said.

2025-12-16