At Rushebeya playground, an elderly man tightened his grip on a yellow National Resistance Movement (NRM) party flag as he pointed toward the hills of Rukiga. “I remember when this place had no electricity,” he told a boy beside him. The boy only blinked. He had never known such a life. That striking contrast between memory and experience captured the message President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni delivered to thousands of supporters: the NRM should be judged by what Ugandans can see, touch, and measure.
President Museveni, the NRM presidential flagbearer, rallied residents of Rukiga District on Tuesday with a call to evaluate the party’s four decades in power through its visible contributions. He said the NRM’s legacy stands on achievements rather than promises as he intensifies his campaign trail across Western Uganda ahead of the 2026 general elections.
“If you support NRM, you’re on the right path because NRM talks about the visible contributions it has made to Uganda,” President Museveni said.
He placed peace at the centre of what he called the “seven contributions of NRM,” saying Uganda’s stability remains the foundation of its transformation. The President contrasted Uganda’s calm with daily insecurity in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Uganda is peaceful because of NRM,” he said. “Yesterday in Kisoro, people spoke about the suffering their neighbours in the DRC continue to face due to insecurity. Ugandans today enjoy stability because of the peace built over the years.”
He said peace opened the door for development, investment, and economic growth. He also revisited the history of electricity access in the region, recalling a time when Kabale and surrounding districts relied on a small dam at Kariba.
“When the NRM came into power, this side of Kabale had no electricity from Jinja,” he said. He noted that as of 2025, Rukiga has four of six sub-counties on the national grid, and plans are underway to electrify Bukinda and Mparo in the next term.
Museveni praised Rukiga’s progress in safe water coverage, saying the district now stands at 83% thanks to gravity flow schemes, solar irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and improved sanitation.
He highlighted the NRM’s work on major road networks, including the Kampala–Kabale–Katuna road, Kabale–Kisoro road, and the Mbarara–Rukungiri–Kanungu–Kihiihi route. He received thunderous applause when he announced the upcoming works on the Muhanga–Rwamucucu road, which will connect Kamwezi, Rubale, Rukungiri, and eventually link to Kanungu.
He asked Ugandans to appreciate the need for prioritization in government spending.
“I need you to help me with one thing, prioritization of resources, and to do one thing at a time, not everything at once,” he said. He defended the decision to increase salaries for science teachers first, while urging patience among arts teachers.
“In the UPDF, we prioritize equipment and the welfare of soldiers, not salary,” he added.
Concerning environmental protection, the President thanked Rukiga residents for safeguarding wetlands and promised a government-funded irrigation project in the swamp.
“I’m going to start a big project on this swamp to enable you to start irrigation and get good yields like Dr. Muranga of Bushenyi,” he said.
Museveni also emphasized wealth creation, explaining the difference between personal wealth and public development. He cited success stories such as George Matongo of Nakaseke, who produces 900 litres of milk daily despite living far from the nearest tarmac road.
“That is why we tell you to create wealth, and the tarmac road will find you,” he said.
He revisited the 4-Acre Model and celebrated the story of Joseph Basangwa of Kamuli, whose JEKA Farm produces 200 trays of eggs daily, employs 300 people, and earns Shs 7.2 billion annually.
“Somebody who had no job is now employing 300 people. Wealth creates jobs,” he said.
The President encouraged Rukiga residents to fully embrace the Parish Development Model (PDM), noting that the district has received Shs 9.2 billion, with 99.46% disbursed to 9,163 households.
“These remaining households must also get out of poverty,” he said.
He reminded supporters that most jobs are created through agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT—not government.
“Uganda has a population of 50 million people, yet government jobs are only 480,000,” he said, citing Sino-Mbale Industrial Park’s 75 factories as an example of industrial-led employment.
Museveni criticized head teachers who charge illegal fees, saying such practices undermine free education. He said the Presidential Skilling Hubs were launched to support young people through free vocational training. He added that government will recruit 5,000 new teachers to reduce the need for schools to impose extra charges.
Regarding oil, he said Uganda’s petroleum resources were discovered under the NRM government.
“Europeans were here for many years but never discovered the country’s oil,” he said.
The President said oil development will lift the economy to a new level.
Former Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda praised the President’s lifelong service.
“He has offered all his life and energy to serve this country. He is the only candidate Ugandans should entrust with leadership,” he said, noting that life expectancy has risen from 43 years in 1986 to 68 years today.
Rukiga NRM Chairperson Frank Besigye Kyerere thanked the President for his leadership and reminded him that he received 81.8% of the district’s vote in the last election.
“We expect at least 90% voter turnout, and we highly believe that more than 90% of these votes will be for His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni,” he said.
He listed key achievements, including peace, district status, wealth creation initiatives, and improved rural water access. He also presented requests for a district hospital, a technical school, and tarmacking of key roads such as Muhanga–Rwamucucu–Kisiizi and Rutobo–Kamwezi–Kyogo–Muhanga.
