President Museveni on Thursday received a warm welcome at Booma Grounds in Hoima City, where he addressed a massive campaign rally in the company of First Daughter Natasha Museveni Karugire and senior National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders.
The President presented the NRM Manifesto to residents of Hoima District and Hoima City, outlining the seven key contributions the movement has made to Uganda over the last 40 years.
He emphasized peace, development, wealth creation and job creation as the foundations of Uganda’s transformation.
“Thank you for coming in big numbers. I am here with other NRM leaders to present to you the contributions the NRM has put on Uganda for the last 40 years.
The first contribution is peace—and that one we don’t need to explain,” he said.
He explained that development has two components: economic infrastructure and social infrastructure.
He cited the improved road network in Hoima and the wider Bunyoro region, the expansion of telecommunication services, and the electrification programme which has already connected 12 out of 14 Sub-counties/Town Councils in Hoima District, with Kiganja and Kijongo set for connection in the next term.
The President also highlighted government investments in social services, pointing out the growth of education and health facilities in the region.
Hoima District now has 64 government primary schools and 6 government secondary schools, while Hoima City has 33 government primary schools and 5 government secondary schools.
All government secondary schools offer Universal Secondary Education and Universal Post-O-Level Education and Training. Four Seed Secondary Schools are under construction and will reduce the number of Sub-counties without a government secondary school from eight to four.
In the health sector, Hoima District has one HCIV, nine HCIIIs and nine HCIIs, with several upgrades ongoing or planned, including elevating Kigorobya HCIV to a General Hospital and constructing new HCIIIs in underserved Sub-counties.
Hoima City benefits from Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, which has a functional CT scan, a new X-ray machine on the way, four radiologists, a functional ICU with six beds and a 15m³ oxygen plant.
The President stressed that development must be accompanied by wealth creation at household level.
“Development is good, but it’s not enough without wealth creation. We have been advising you to stop working only for the stomach but also work for the pocket,” he said.
He again advised small landholders to adopt the four-acre model and large landowners to invest in tea, ranching and cotton.
On oil, he urged responsible management of Uganda’s new resource.
“In Uganda now we have new wealth—oil. We have confirmed 6.5 billion barrels of crude oil in the Albertine region, and we are still exploring. But some people want us to misuse this money. Oil will only last about 20 years, so we must invest it in long-term projects,” he said.
He further assured Bunyoro residents that in addition to Kabalega Industrial Park for petroleum products, the government will construct a separate industrial park for agro-processing, since food and petroleum industries cannot operate in the same location.
The President noted that job creation will come from commercial agriculture, factories, services and ICT. He encouraged youth in Hoima to take advantage of the skilling centres to acquire employable skills.
Anita Among, the NRM Second National Vice Chairperson (Female) and Speaker of Parliament, applauded the President for projects such as Hoima Stadium, Bunyoro University and the improved road network, saying he was not in Bunyoro to campaign but to celebrate NRM’s achievements.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja thanked the President for championing the emancipation of women, citing her own rise as the first female Prime Minister from the Bunyoro Sub-region as a testament to opportunities created under the NRM.
NRM Vice Chairperson for Western Uganda, Asiimwe Jonard, thanked mobilisers for securing overwhelming support for the President and reaffirmed the region’s strong backing for the NRM.
The NRM Chairperson of Hoima District, Vincent Muhumuza Savannah, thanked the President for major developments in Hoima, including Hoima International Airport and the Regional Blood Bank, but raised concerns about widespread land evictions.
He appealed to the President to intervene and ensure residents receive affordable and secure land titles.