President Museveni has praised the remarkable transformation of Iganga, recalling its difficult past and celebrating the progress the district has made over the decades.
Speaking on Friday during his campaign rally at the district headquarters, the NRM presidential candidate reflected on the days when Iganga was nowhere to its current status.
He noted that in the early 1970s, Iganga was nothing more than a small, quiet settlement with only a handful of structures.
“In 1971 and 1972, Iganga town would start where the police station is today, with just a few buildings,” he said. “There was a new lodge at the end of Busesa — that was what we called Iganga town.”
Museveni also reminisced an incident where he passed through Iganga and he smuggled 12 machine guns from Tanzania via Kenya, to Iganga up to Kampala.
He said he stayed in the “small lodge” which he said looked new at that time and later at night he moved with his “luggage” of guns to Kampala.
Museveni however, contrasted that modest past with the vibrancy and development visible today.
“When I am here with people who are enjoying themselves, I thank God,” he noted, emphasizing that the transformation is a testament to sustained peace in the area.
Museveni highlighted the entire district’s growth into a bustling commercial center, pointing to improved roads, expanding business activity, better social services, and the increasing population as evidence of the area’s development.
“In all those fights, we (NRM) had clear aims and in the manifesto of 2026/ 2031 we are telling you seven contributions we have made to Uganda in the last 40 years,” he said, mentioning peace as the start of the current development.
“Even after 1986, there was no peace with wars against Lakwena and FOBA(Force Obote Back Again) among others but now there is total peace in the whole country and it is because of NRM’s ideology.”
Development
In terms of development, Museveni mentioned several roads that the NRM government has either maintained or put in place in Iganga.
He mentioned the road from Kampala to Malaba through Iganga which has been repaired many times, the Nakalama- Tirinyi -Mbale road and the one from Iganga to Kaliro which have been tarmacked.
“We have worked on them and you can see this. What is remaining is the road from Bulopa-Iganga to Kamuli and the money is there. We are going to work on it.”
In terms of water, Museveni said Iganga is doing well, with 178 out of the 231 rural villages representing 77% having access to a safe water source.
He mentioned several completed projects which include 42 new boreholes, 24 rehabilitated, three piped water systems constructed in Mawaito, Nawandala and Kazigo Rural Growth Centres and the Iganga Municipality Piped Water Supply and Sanitation System, now serving approximately 62,000 people.
Museveni also cited the Mbulamuti Piped Water Supply System, reaching 11,926 beneficiaries and operationalisation of the Kisozi Water Supply System, serving 10,800 people.
In terms of electricity, Museveni said Iganga is now connected to the national grid, with nine out of the 11 sub counties which make up Iganga connected to the national grid
“When we came to government, our plan was to take electricity up to each district headquarter because at one time it was ending in Mbale. It wasn’t going to Kapchorwa or Karamoja. We decided to take it to district headquarters first. Now except Buvuma, every district has. From there we said now we are at district, let us go to sub county headquarters. It may not have reached all villages but here we thank God,” he said.
“ I am happy that nine sub county headquarters are now connected and we are only remaining with Kidaago and Nawanyingi. From there the target is to lower down to parishes and villages. Ours is not to just bump into things but doing everything step by step.”
In terms of health facilities, Museveni noted that out of 11 sub counties in Iganga, one has a district hospital, one has one health centre IV and 10 have health centre IIIs.
Only one sub county has no health facility but said there is a bigger plan.
Museveni mentioned the upcoming elevation of Naibiri health centre II to health centre III in Kidaago Sub-County.
Wealth creation
Despite the achievements, Museveni reminded the local population of the need to get involved in wealth creation.
He insisted that the presence of several infrastructure doesn’t necessarily mean they will be wealth, urging them to utilise the Parish Development Model and Emyooga funds to create wealth for themselves.
Iganga district’s 42 parishes have so far received shs12.9 billion going to 12,956 beneficiaries as part of the Parish Development Model.
Iganga Municipality has on the other side, received shs3.3 billion going out to 3,387 beneficiaries in 11 parishes.
In terms of Emyooga, Iganga Municipality and district have both got shs2.4 billion disbursed to 54 saccos with 31,980 members.
Iganga’s population is 426,958 according to the 2024 census report and in the 2021 general election, the National Unity Platform with 58.2% beat NRM’s President Museveni who got 37.9%.