When an elderly lady walked three kilometres to the Rubanda playground, she carried with her a small note listing the roads she hoped the President would mention. “If he speaks about Hamurwa and Mugyera, I will go home happy,” she whispered to a neighbour as crowds swelled. By the end of the rally, she folded the note with a smile. The President had mentioned them all and promised even more.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Monday afternoon addressed residents in Rubanda District with a message centred on continuity, stability and wealth creation, telling residents that the next phase of Uganda’s transformation demands stronger infrastructure and deeper household income initiatives.
Speaking as the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential flagbearer, he said his 2026–2031 Manifesto builds on a simple foundation: protecting peace and expanding opportunities.
He told supporters that border districts such as Rubanda and Kisoro understand the value of stability better than most because of their proximity to conflict-prone areas in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“After defeating Kony and the other rebel groups that once disturbed our people, we secured this peace. And we must protect it,” he said.
President Museveni placed infrastructure at the centre of his message. He praised the completed Kabale–Kisoro Road and confirmed that government had secured funding for the Katuna–Muko–Kamuganguzi Road. He assured residents that several strategic routes including the Kisoro–Nkuringo–Buguri–Buko Road, the Kabale–Bunyonyi–Kisoro–Mgahinga corridor and the Hamurwa– Kerere– Kanungu– Kanyantorogo–Butogota–Buhoma/Ifasha–Ikumba stretch would be upgraded.
“These strategic roads will boost tourism, improve access to markets and increase incomes,” he said.
He also revisited a theme he has championed since the 1960s. He praised the cattle corridor families who embraced modern dairy farming early.
“I’m very glad the dairy farmers of 1964–65 listened. We told them to stop moving from place to place trying to run from foot and mouth disease. They listened and now, they’re earning big,” he said.
The President urged families with limited land to embrace intensive agriculture. He cautioned smallholders against low-value crops and emphasised planning.
“If you have a small piece of land say two acres and you grow cotton or tobacco, you get little per year. But you must produce a good or service for sale and you must do it with ekibalo (calculation),” he said.
He broke down the Four-Acre Model, first introduced in the 1996 NRM Manifesto.
“If you have four acres, do seven things: One acre for coffee, it can bring you Shs15 million a year. The second acre for fruits, the third for pasture you can support cows on one acre,” he explained.
“The fourth for food crops. In the backyard, do poultry for eggs, piggery if you’re not a Muslim, and fish farming if you’re near swamps. One acre accommodates four ponds which make up to Shs80 million a year.”
On the Parish Development Model (PDM), he warned that the programme requires discipline.
“This PDM is your bank. It is not a handout,” he said.
“Those who have received the money must ensure it is put to good use and repaid after two years so that others can also benefit.”
He added that misuse of PDM funds denies other households a chance to escape poverty.
The President later handed over NRM flags to aspiring MPs, district leaders and other candidates, formally endorsing their participation in the upcoming elections.
Henry Musasizi, Minister of State for Finance (General Duties) and MP for Rubanda East, thanked the President for expanding services in education, health, water and electricity. He cited progress in school construction, improved health centres and rural water systems.
“However, Your Excellency, we request that you enforce the police to curb crime like theft in the villages. This is one of those issues we are facing here,” he said.
Former Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda welcomed the President to Kigezi and urged residents to maintain their support.
Rubanda’s development indicators formed a major backdrop to the rally. The district now has 110 government primary schools and 81 private ones, nine government secondary schools and 29 private secondary institutions. Two Seed Secondary Schools are under construction, expected to reduce the number of sub-counties without government secondary schools from ten to eight.
In health, upgrades are underway for several facilities, including the elevation of Kiyebe, Kaara, Ihunga, Kagarama, Mugyera and Kashasha to HCIII level. New HC IIIs are planned for Bubaare, Kacere and Katojo. The district also hosts a general hospital in Rubanda West and a functioning HCIV in Rubanda East.
Water access remains uneven. Out of 476 villages, 54 percent have safe water sources, while ongoing projects including new piped systems and protected springs aim to expand access.
Rubanda is now fully connected to the national power grid, with plans to extend electricity to ten remaining sub-counties.
On economic empowerment, district data shows that 20,733 of Rubanda’s 63,754 households have benefited from the PDM. The district has received Shs 21.1 billion under the programme, with over 96 percent disbursed. Rubanda also hosts 32 Emyooga SACCOs with 20,963 members who have collectively received Shs 1.76 billion.
The rally drew a strong delegation of NRM leaders, Members of Parliament, religious leaders and thousands of supporters.
