President Museveni who is also the NRM presidential candidate has kicked off his campaign trail in the Ankole Sub-region, starting with Isingiro District.
He was accompanied by his daughter, Patience Rwabwogo Museveni, who joined him in engaging supporters across the district.
Addressing thousands of supporters at Isingiro District Headquarters, the President thanked God for the peace and stability the NRM has maintained over the years.
He said he had previously passed through the area during the struggles of 1972, 1979, and 1985 carrying guns, but now he walks peacefully, well-dressed, and united with the people, thanks to the peace the NRM restored.
President Museveni highlighted the government’s achievements in road infrastructure within the region, including the completion of the Mbarara–Kikagate–Isingiro road and the Kachumbala–Kabale–Ntungamo Road.
He added that priority roads such as the Kikagate–Kitwe–Namahimba road and the Kabingo–Rwekubo–Rugaaga–Endizi–Magabi–Rakai–Mutukula road are next in line for improvement to boost connectivity and open markets for farmers and traders.
The President emphasized that although Uganda has made great progress in development, the focus must now shift to household wealth creation.
He clarified the difference between development and wealth, noting that even urban areas with infrastructure, like Kampala, have residents who remain poor.
He explained that wealth creation revolves around commercial agriculture, manufacturing and factories, services like hotels and transport, and ICT innovations.
President Museveni reminded the supporters that after securing peace, the NRM introduced the Four-Acre Model in the 1996 Manifesto as a practical pathway out of poverty.
He outlined how a farmer can utilize one acre for coffee, another for fruits, one acre for pasture for dairy cattle, and one acre for family food, complemented by backyard poultry or piggery and fish farming for those close to wetlands.
To strengthen wealth creation, the president noted that the government will continue funding the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga and will introduce additional specialized funds for leaders, youth in ghettos, boda boda riders, unemployed graduates, religious leaders, and cultural leaders.
The President addressed misconceptions about employment, explaining that Uganda has only 480,000 government jobs for a population of 50 million, making it impossible for the government to employ everyone.
He emphasized that real job creation comes from commercial agriculture, factories, services, and ICT.
He cited Mbale Industrial Park, which hosts over 75 factories and has created thousands of jobs, contributing to the 1.3 million jobs created by new factories—almost three times more than those in the public sector.
The President encouraged banana farmers to adopt modern agricultural practices and irrigation to enhance productivity. Isingiro, being a major banana-growing district, has great market potential that can be expanded through improved land management and irrigation systems.
He also handed over the NRM flags to aspiring Members of Parliament, LC V chairpersons, councillors, and other party candidates in Isingiro District, endorsing their participation in the upcoming elections.
The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among, who is also the Second National Vice Chairperson of the NRM, urged the people of Isingiro to maintain their strong support for the party.
She noted that leaders earlier in the day launched a workers’ SACCO to boost incomes and promote wealth creation.
She commended the district’s clean audit record, which she attributed to discipline and transparency.
She also appreciated the government’s efforts to provide clean water to the sub-region, citing the Kagera and Doctor Deep water projects that benefit both host communities and refugee settlements.
The Minister of Agriculture and Animal Industry, Bright Rwamirama, reassured the President of massive support from the district, thanking him for standing with the people of Isingiro.
NRM District Chairperson Moses Mushabe welcomed the President and recalled that Isingiro delivered 94% of the vote in the 2021 general elections.
He pledged even stronger support this time. He highlighted the district’s demographic profile, including 30 Sub-Counties or Town Councils, 131 Parishes, 901 villages, and a population of 635,077, noting the district’s rapid growth and increasing needs, especially in health infrastructure due to hosting refugees.
Mushabe reported that Isingiro has so far received Shs. 47.1 billion under the Parish Development Model, and 41,131 households, representing 27.7% of all households, have benefited.
Under Emyooga, the district has 89 SACCOs with 31,901 members supported by government financing totaling Shs. 3.35 billion, enabling artisans, traders, and service providers to expand their enterprises.
The district has seen significant growth in education, with 197 government primary schools, 543 private primary schools, 21 government secondary schools, and 75 private secondary schools.
However, some areas still lack government institutions. To address this, the district is constructing seven new Seed Secondary Schools, which will reduce the number of sub-counties without government secondary schools from 16 to 9.
Isingiro benefits from the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs, with the Ankole hub located in Mbarara City. A total of 1,226 youth have been trained so far, and 247 learners are currently enrolled in skills such as carpentry, tailoring, metal fabrication, hairdressing, baking, and construction.
Out of the 30 Sub-Counties, Isingiro currently operates four HCIVs and 26 HCIIIs, leaving eight sub-counties without a government health facility. The government plans to upgrade several HCII facilities to HCIII and to construct new HCIIIs in Kabingo and Kagarama.
Water access in the district stands at 51%, with 461 of 901 villages having safe water sources. The government has implemented major piped water systems in Nyarubungo, Rugaga, Kihiihi, Isingiro Town Council, Kaberere, and other areas, benefiting more than 100,000 residents.
The district has also seen the construction of 15 protected springs, rehabilitation of 41 boreholes, installation of gravity-flow systems, and drilling of boreholes in water-stressed villages such as Kagaga, Karunga, Ntenga, Kyarwanshashura, and Kihanda.
Ongoing projects include the construction of the Isingiro piped water and sanitation system, expansion of the Nyamisindo and Rumuri systems, and improvements to natural spring protections in Mahaama, Nyakisheshero, and Nyakabingo.
The government has also invested heavily in water-for-production infrastructure, such as the Kamwema and Kyakashana valley tanks, small-scale irrigation schemes in Ruhimbo, Bugarika, and Kibwera, and the rehabilitation of Kagango dam. Large-capacity valley tanks, including Nyamarungi, have also been constructed.
The Kabuyanda Multipurpose Dam and Irrigation Scheme, covering 3,300 hectares, is underway and will benefit 32,000 farmers across 38 villages.
The district leadership confirmed that Isingiro is now fully connected to the national electricity grid, boosting businesses, schools, health centres, and households.
The event was attended by NRM Central Executive Committee members, Members of Parliament, cultural and religious leaders, and thousands of supporters.