President Yoweri Museveni brought hope to residents of Buhweju District by promising the first-ever tarmac road in the area during a rally at Engaju Seed Secondary School playground on Saturday afternoon.
He acknowledged that his government has underperformed in road construction in the district but assured the community that progress is finally coming.
“Bwizibwera—Nyakambu—Nsika—Nyakashaka—Nyakabirizi road is going to be tarmacked. We have already engaged Railway 18th Group Company to work on the road. Shs30 billion has been set aside to compensate those affected, and work will start soon,” Museveni said to cheers from the crowd.
Carved out of Bushenyi District in 2010, Buhweju remains the only district in Ankole sub-region without a tarmacked road. NRM Buhweju District Chairman Godfrey Kabandize highlighted the community’s infrastructure needs, including upgrading Nsiika Health Centre IV to a district hospital, constructing a youth skilling centre, and promoting tourism by designating Buhweju a tourism district due to its proximity to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Museveni admitted that delays in tarmacking Buhweju’s roads were partly due to competing demands from MPs and local leaders, explaining that government tackles projects one at a time, prioritizing the most urgent. “Tell your MPs to know the way bush fighters operate. We don’t do many things at the same time. We do one thing at a time. First, handle the most important ones,” he said.
Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, who attended the rally, said the visit gave top government leaders firsthand insight into Buhweju’s challenges. “I am happy I came by road. The first priority to handle is roads. We are not going to allow you to continue with dusty roads. We are going to make sure you have one of the best roads,” she said, also urging residents to elect MPs who will effectively advocate for their constituents.
Buhweju has two MPs: Francis Mwijukye of the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) representing Buhweju County, and NRM’s Oliver Katwesigye Koyekyenga as District Woman MP. Mwijukye has been notably vocal on local issues.
On health, Museveni highlighted achievements despite infrastructure gaps. Out of 14 sub-counties, one has a health centre IV and nine have health centre IIIs. Four sub-counties—Kashenyi-Kajani, Rubengye, Rwengwe, and Nyakaziba Town Council—lack health facilities.
“In the coming term, we shall upgrade Nsiika HCIV in Buhweju Constituency to a general hospital, Engaju HCIII in Buhweju West Constituency to a HCIV, and construct new HCIIIs in Kashenyi-Kajani, Nyakaziba, Rubengye, and Rwengwe sub-counties,” he said. Ongoing works include upgrading Bitsya HCII to HCIII, completing staff houses at Bitsya HCIII and Kiyanja HCIII, renovating the inpatient ward at Karungu HCIII, and remodeling the OPD block at Burere HCIII.