As dusk settles over Lake Victoria, traders on the Ssese Islands often race against time, knowing the last ferry to the mainland will not wait for nightfall. For many in Kalangala, the restricted ferry schedule has long shaped how they trade, travel and earn a living. On Saturday, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni told island residents that this reality must change.
Addressing a campaign rally at Kibanga Primary School playground in Kalangala District, Museveni pledged to restore night ferry operations to and from the Ssese Islands and to intensify the fight against crime. He said better transport and security are essential to unlocking trade, protecting livelihoods and driving development in island communities.
“On the issue of ferries, I am told they are few, they operate for only a few hours and they do not move at night. We are going to look into this matter seriously,” Museveni said. “We used to travel at night in the past, even across Lake Victoria. There is no reason why this cannot be addressed.”
Museveni described ferries as the economic lifeline of the islands, linking residents to markets, health services and social networks on the mainland. He said restoring night operations would ease congestion, cut transport costs and stimulate business activity across Kalangala.
The President was responding to concerns raised by the NRM Vice Chairperson for the Central Region, Haruna Kasolo Kyeyune, who told the rally that limited ferry schedules were slowing trade and weakening economic growth in the district.
Beyond transport, Museveni turned to security, assuring residents that government would act decisively against theft and violent crime reported on some fishing islands. He reminded the gathering that Kalangala has enjoyed decades of relative peace under the NRM but acknowledged emerging threats.
“This area has enjoyed peace for 40 years because of the NRM. However, I have heard about issues of theft and crime here. We are going to look into this matter seriously,” he said.
Museveni pointed to the deployment of security forces at fishing landing sites and ferry docks as part of wider efforts to protect fishermen, traders and travellers. He said maintaining order on the islands is critical to safeguarding incomes and sustaining investor confidence.
On infrastructure, the President acknowledged calls to upgrade key roads, including the Bugoma–Kalangala road, and urged voters to elect leaders who consistently lobby for services. “You must choose leaders who demand roads and services for you,” he said.
Museveni also commended residents for embracing palm oil growing, which he described as a game-changer for the island economy. He encouraged farmers to diversify into livestock and poultry while cautioning fishermen against destructive practices. He urged them to avoid catching immature fish and to protect breeding grounds to sustain Lake Victoria’s fisheries.
On social services, Museveni pledged continued investment in education, water and health. He cited progress made but admitted that gaps remain, reiterating government’s commitment to ensuring every sub-county has a government secondary school and that safe water reaches all villages.
Kasolo welcomed Museveni to Kalangala and thanked him for strengthening security and supporting wealth-creation programmes such as palm oil growing. He called for tougher action against crime and for ferries to operate day and night to unlock the district’s full economic potential.
NRM Chairperson for Kalangala District, Gerald Kayita, praised government for deploying security personnel at fishing islands and ferry points, saying the move had restored confidence among fishing communities, although challenges of theft and violence persist in some areas.
Museveni later handed over NRM flags to party candidates in the district, formally endorsing them for the forthcoming elections. The rally drew NRM Central Executive Committee members, Members of Parliament, religious and cultural leaders, and thousands of supporters from across the Ssese Islands.
