At the grounds of Butalangu in Nakaseke district, a place where cattle once trekked long distances in search of pasture, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni paused his campaign to make a practical point. He spoke not of distant policy but of grass, land use and household income, urging farmers to rethink how they work their soil if they are to defeat poverty.
Campaigning alongside the First Lady, Maama Janet Museveni, the President used the Nakaseke rally to link Uganda’s four decades of stability to a new push for wealth creation rooted in modern farming and prioritised development.
Museveni told residents that Africa’s long-standing problems stem from leaders who worked for external interests instead of their own people. He said the National Resistance Movement (NRM) broke from that past by learning to prioritise critical needs.
“Since 1960, prioritising has helped us win many wars,” Museveni said. “Over 40 years, the NRM made key contributions. Leaders must listen to advice.”
He reminded the crowd that peace was the foundation upon which development had been built, citing expanded electricity, schools, hospitals and other public services across Nakaseke District. However, he cautioned that infrastructure alone cannot lift families out of poverty.
“Development without wealth creation is not enough,” Museveni said. “We must create wealth for our people.”
Turning to agriculture, the President challenged farmers to abandon inefficient practices, especially in livestock rearing. He said many households underuse their small plots of land yet expect high returns.
“Instead of moving long distances in search of pasture, farmers can grow pastures at home and produce enough food for their animals,” he said. “One acre can support up to eight cows if properly managed.”
The message fit squarely into Museveni’s broader campaign theme of household-level productivity, where fewer but better-managed animals yield more milk, income and stability. He noted that such practices had already improved milk production in parts of the district.
Museveni also pointed to peace, development and job creation as the NRM’s defining achievements, arguing that Uganda’s stability over the last four decades stands out in a region often marked by conflict. He highlighted road infrastructure as a key enabler of growth, mentioning improvements linking Luweero, Butalangu, Semuto and Gulu, with plans to extend the Luweero–Butalangu road to Ngoma and Kiboga.
He urged voters to elect leaders who understand and defend priorities such as roads, electricity and wealth creation, saying these are the pillars of sustainable development.
The First Lady, Maama Janet Museveni, thanked residents for supporting the NRM and safeguarding development gains. She called on them to translate rally enthusiasm into votes.
She urged residents to turn up in large numbers and vote for the NRM in the upcoming elections.
NRM Deputy Secretary General Rose Namayanja-Nsereko described Nakaseke’s transformation from a troubled area into what she called “a peace cradle.” She credited improved roads with easing the movement of people and farm produce and said the President had set the pace for increased agricultural productivity, particularly in dairy farming.
Museveni also addressed long-standing local concerns, saying the government would buy land for bibanja holders and resolve veterinary challenges affecting farmers. He added that issues such as absentee landlords, veterans’ welfare, old road machinery and forest-related disputes had been noted.
He said industrial parks and presidential skilling hubs were already equipping young people with practical skills to start businesses and create jobs, reinforcing the link between peace, planning and prosperity.
As the rally ended, Museveni returned to his core argument that Uganda’s progress has come from clear choices and disciplined priorities. For Nakaseke’s farmers, he said, the next step is simple but demanding use land wisely, create wealth deliberately, and protect the peace that makes it all possible.
