Leaders in Mayuge District have asked President Museveni to consider splitting the district into two, arguing that population growth and declining service delivery have overstretched existing administrative structures.
The appeal was made during the President’s rally on Tuesday, where local leaders cited persistent gaps in health care, unemployment and the fishing economy.
Mayuge, one of the most densely populated districts in Busoga Sub-region, has long struggled with inadequate services, and leaders say the strain has now reached a point that warrants urgent intervention from central government.
President Museveni, accompanied by First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni, arrived at the district headquarters at 3:30pm for his second rally of the day.
He was received by NRM First National Vice Chairperson Moses Kigongo, First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga and several local leaders, who welcomed him amid cheering supporters.
During the rally, NRM District Chairperson Aggrey Bagiire praised the government for recent achievements in education, health and infrastructure, including the Musita–Busia road.
He, however, asked the President to prioritise an industrial park for the area to create jobs for young people.
Bagiire renewed the district’s long-standing request for Mayuge to be split and for Mayuge Town Council to be elevated to a municipality to ease administrative pressure.
“Your Excellency, I am aware of the moratorium on creating new districts, but the people of Mayuge have sent me to ask for a new district and for Mayuge Town Council to be elevated to a municipality,” Bagiire said.
He noted that Mayuge hosts two cultural chiefdoms—Bunha and Bunhole-Bunanhumba—while other chiefdoms in Busoga have districts named after them.
He further appealed for implementation of an earlier directive to degazette parts of the Busoga South Forest Reserve, saying residents occupying the land had waited for years without action.
“Your Excellency, you directed that the National Forest Authority degazettes land in more than ten villages for residents, but unfortunately, nothing has been done,” he added.
Third Deputy Prime Minister Lukia Nakadama said although some illegally acquired land titles had been cancelled in the contested areas, many affected residents remained stranded because the NFA had “adamantly refused” to release the land.
In his address, President Museveni urged the people of Mayuge to continue supporting the NRM, saying the party had been central to the stability and development Uganda has achieved over the years.
“NRM has added several bricks to the growth and transformation of Uganda—including in health, education, economic development and infrastructure. When someone asks why you support NRM, tell them the party has added a brick to Uganda’s development,” he said.
The President also asked residents to vote for him in the 2026 elections, dismissing other contenders as “detractors of development.”
Museveni pledged continued support to the district and said government would examine the concerns raised as it works to improve service delivery across the country.
Mayuge District was created in May 2000, when it was carved out of Iganga District as part of the government’s decentralization and district creation program.
Mayuge District covers a total area of 4,672.22 km², of which 76.62% (about 3,584.7 km²) is water and 23.38% (about 1,093.6 km²) is land. It has a population of 562,048 - according to the 2025 census figures.
