Leaders and residents in the Kigezi sub-region have outlined key issues they hope will be addressed in the upcoming State of the Nation Address, with major concerns including poor road infrastructure, challenges in the health sector, delayed payments to tea nursery bed operators, and rising poverty levels.
Tourism roads, particularly the Kabale–Lake Bunyonyi and Kisoro–Mugahiga routes, have long been cited as major constraints to the growth of the region’s tourism industry. Poor road conditions continue to limit access to key tourist attractions, negatively affecting both visitors and local businesses.
Tea nursery bed operators have also expressed concern over delayed government payments, saying the situation has disrupted operations and affected their livelihoods. Meanwhile, poverty levels in the region remain high at about 27 percent, leaving many households struggling to meet basic needs.
The State of the Nation Address, scheduled for Thursday, is expected to highlight government priorities and achievements for the 2026/2027 financial year. Leaders and residents in Kigezi say they will be closely monitoring the address, hoping for clear commitments on infrastructure development, agricultural support, and poverty reduction initiatives.
Rukiga District LC5 Chairperson, Simon Mutebi Rwamagyenda, said he expects the President to address persistent challenges in the health sector, particularly the need to strengthen referral hospital services. He noted that Kigezi has a high number of cancer patients and called for the establishment of more health facilities and increased support for health workers.
Rwamagyenda also urged government to prioritize industrial development, including the establishment of mineral processing industries such as an iron ore factory, which he said would create employment opportunities for young people.
Rubanda District LC5 Chairperson, Stephen Ampeire Kasyaba, called for increased funding for road construction, noting that infrastructure development in Kigezi is more expensive due to the region’s mountainous terrain, making current allocations insufficient.
He also raised concerns over delayed disaster management funds, saying local leaders often struggle to respond to emergencies because resources remain centralized under the Office of the Prime Minister. Kasyaba further appealed for increased funding to government programmes, including the Parish Development Model (PDM), to enhance their impact at the community level.
Kabale District LC5 Chairperson, Denis Nzirwe, emphasized the need for urgent government intervention on tourism roads, particularly the Kabale–Lake Bunyonyi road project, which he said was awarded years ago but remains incomplete after the contractor abandoned site.
He noted that the delay continues to affect tourism and economic activity in the area. Nzirwe also raised concerns over unresolved pension issues affecting retirees and called for greater decentralization of funding, saying most local government resources are consumed by salaries, leaving little for development projects.
Kabale Municipality resident Aggrey Matsiko attributed rising poverty levels to the absence of a viable cash crop in the region.
He argued that tea, introduced as a major cash crop, has not delivered expected benefits and has instead created challenges for farmers and nursery bed operators.
He urged government to identify and promote a more suitable cash crop for the Kigezi region.
As Uganda awaits the State of the Nation Address, leaders and residents in Kigezi say they are expecting more than promises, calling for concrete commitments that will translate into improved service delivery and tangible development outcomes.