President Museveni has promised new investments in roads and wealth creation in Namisindwa District, but residents say years of unfulfilled pledges and stagnant service delivery have left them disillusioned, eight years after the district was carved out of Manafwa with hopes of bringing services closer to the people.
When Namisindwa District was created in 2017, many residents expected faster service delivery, better roads, and improved access to health care.
Instead, frustration has grown. The administrative split created new political offices—now represented by MPs John Musila, Apolo Masika, and Woman MP Sarah Kayegi—but residents say the expanded representation has brought little change.
The long-promised tarmacking of the Kufu–Bupoto–Munamba and Magale–Bumbo–Lwakhakha roads has never materialised.
The district still lacks a Health Centre IV and relies on 10 Health Centre IIIs to serve a population that now exceeds 300,000.
Electricity access remains uneven, and many parishes continue to grapple with poor roads and inadequate water coverage.
Current service delivery indicators paint a worrying picture: 34% Health Centre III coverage, 58% primary school coverage, 37% secondary school coverage, and 64% water access.
Aside from national programmes such as the Parish Development Model, residents say they feel abandoned.
“We have lost confidence in our leaders,” said Wanoti Michael, a trader in Bumbo Town Council. “Our MPs are useless; they only enrich themselves. We were promised tarmac on the Magale–Bumbo–Lwakhakha road, but we still live in dust. We use donkeys because our roads are impassable.”
Wanoti recalled local stories of President Museveni hiding in caves in the area during the bush war, protected by residents, but said the district has little to show for its loyalty.
Others share his frustration, including trader Patrick Kimona, known as Big Boss, who said poor roads have crippled trade, especially in Bumbo’s high-value onion and coffee markets.
During a recent campaign stop in Namisindwa, President Museveni was received by a large crowd and pledged to tarmac the Kufu–Nambola–Namisindwa–Magale–Bumbo–Lwakhakha road.
He emphasised wealth creation as a key focus of the next phase of NRM governance.
Museveni listed improvements made under NRM—expanded electricity coverage, better telecommunications, more schools, and increased access to health facilities.
He said the district’s population growth reflects improved child survival rates, attributing this to progress in health services since the 1980s.
The President pointed to the Mbale–Lwakhakha tarmac road and the Presidential Skilling Hub in Namisindwa, where youth train in practical trades. Government has also injected Shs50 million into a district SACCO to support graduates from the hub.
In a memo to the President, Namisindwa NRM chairperson Asuman Wabuko acknowledged government interventions but outlined unresolved concerns, including limited electricity access, high water tariffs, the lack of a Health Centre IV, boundary conflicts with the National Park, and unfulfilled resettlement plans for landslide victims.
“We think if these issues are addressed, our people will be happy,” Wabuko said.
Bubulo East MP John Musila, known as Rastaman, said although gaps remain, the district has made progress. He highlighted improved education levels and increased cross-border trade at Lwakhakha, arguing that upgrading the border post to a One-Stop Border Post would accelerate economic activity.
But the concerns extend beyond political representation. Implementation of government programmes has also been questioned.
Despite receiving Shs1 billion annually for road maintenance, residents say the works are poor. Protests erupted recently after soil—not marram—was dumped along the Shokomo–Tsekululu–Luwa road, with locals accusing district authorities of corruption and insensitivity.
The district road committee, led by the area MPs, supervises the use of these funds.
District chairperson and NRM flag bearer Ema Bwayo said the frustration is justified but argued that both leaders and voters must take responsibility.
“For the President, we have countless unfulfilled pledges. For the voters, the issue is the quality of leaders they choose,” Bwayo said. “You can’t elect someone who cannot articulate issues and expect him to be your voice in Parliament.”
He urged residents to move away from voting based on handouts, warning that the district’s development depends on capable representatives.
A recent Bugisu NGO Forum study found a widespread feeling of underrepresentation across the region despite its many MPs.
Analysts such as Sam Wambuya say local leaders are “inaudible and invisible” in national debates and are often reluctant to challenge the status quo due to expectations of ministerial appointments or personal gain.
He said Bugisu leaders lack unity and are frequently locked in political intrigue.
As Museveni campaigns on renewed promises of development, Namisindwa stands at a crossroads—torn between its historical loyalty to the ruling party and deepening frustration over unmet commitments that continue to define everyday life.