Members of Parliament from Mayuge District have called on the government to urgently address a range of long-standing issues affecting their constituents, warning that continued neglect could further erode support for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The appeal was made during the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new NRM office in Mayuge, where party treasurer Hajjat Madina Naham was the chief guest.
The MPs expressed concern that unresolved local challenges significantly contributed to President Yoweri Museveni’s diminished support in the district during the 2021 elections, where he garnered only 45% of the vote.
Among the issues raised were the stringent fishing measures enforced by the UPDF fisheries protectorate unit Lake Victoria which have contributed to many fishermen to abandon fishing which was their only source of livelihood.
The leaders also pointed out the predicament of the sugarcane farmers as another great factor which contributed to President Museveni's dismal performance in the the district
Land disputes in forest reserves such as Kityerera and Malongo where officials from National Forestry Authority have continued to evict people from the occupied forest land despite the earlier dircetive tp degazate the forest and forced removals of residents from wetlands contributed immensely to the voting pattern in Mayuge.
Leading the charge was Third Deputy Prime Minister and Mayuge District Woman MP, Rukia Nakadama, who emphasized that failure to address these pressing concerns could damage the party's prospects in the upcoming elections.
“These challenges are directly affecting our people’s livelihoods,” Nakadama said. “ We need to act now, before 2026 general elections ”
Aggrey Bagiire, MP for Bunya West, echoed similar concerns, calling for proactive solutions and stronger engagement between government agencies and local communities.
The MPs channeled their concerns through Hajjat Madina Naham, urging the NRM secretariat to fast-track development initiatives in the area.
They also expressed appreciation for the decision to construct a new party office in Mayuge, describing it as a vital step toward strengthening the party’s presence in the district and the wider Busoga sub-region.
In response, Hajjat Naham reassured their concerns had been noted and emphasized that President Museveni remains committed to addressing them.
“Government is fully aware of the challenges facing Mayuge,” she said. “The president is the right person to resolve these issues, and we urge you to continue supporting him as we look ahead to 2026.”
She blamed the failure by some government ministries, departments and agencies for fuelling Mayuge's challenges.
"For example if the president directed that part of the forest land should be degazzeted why should NFA continue harassing our people- promising to forward matter to higher authorities for intervention
Iddi Isabirye, MP for Bunya South, praised the establishment of the new office, saying it would play a key role in mobilizing grassroots support and fostering stronger ties between the party and the electorate.
The development comes as the NRM begins early preparations for the 2026 elections, amid growing pressure to deliver tangible results in regions where support has shown signs of decline.
For many years,, President Museveni has won in Busoga but his dismal performance in 2021 shocked many party leaders in the region.
Out of the 11 districts and Jinja City, Museveni won only in Kaliro, Namutumba and Buyende.