Mubarak Munyagwa, the Common Man’s Party (CMP) presidential candidate, has pledged to make Kasese “great again” if elected. During brief campaign stops in Kasese and Bwera towns on Tuesday evening, Munyagwa emphasized the historical and economic significance of Kasese.
He recalled that during President Idi Amin’s tenure in the 1970s, Kasese was a thriving and vibrant town. However, he lamented that its prosperity drastically declined under the NRM government led by President Yoweri Museveni. Munyagwa pointed to the collapse of key infrastructure such as Kilembe Mines Company, the railway, and the Katwe Salt Factory—assets that, if preserved and revitalized, could have propelled Kasese to a higher level of socio-economic development.
He accused Museveni’s government of attempting to placate the local community with “peanut” programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM), designed to distract them from the long-term economic losses stemming from closures such as Kilembe Mines. Munyagwa said it was wishful thinking for Ugandans to expect Museveni to deliver meaningful progress after nearly 40 years in power.
Claiming to know Kasese better than any other candidate, Munyagwa vowed to be intentional in ensuring the revival of key infrastructure and economic opportunities as quickly as possible. He also reiterated his stance on expelling foreigners engaged in petty businesses to allow locals fair competition.
The presidential candidate further promised to establish an equalization fund to compensate individuals displaced by the demarcation of Queen Elizabeth and Mount Rwenzori National Parks. He encouraged electorates to vote exclusively for opposition candidates to prevent Museveni from securing the majority, paving the way for a unified opposition government.
However, residents called on presidential candidates to prioritize solutions for land and employment challenges in the district. Eunice Biira observed that many young people have lost hope due to the lack of jobs and urged political aspirants to present concrete plans for addressing unemployment. She noted that while infrastructure developments have been made over the past four years, many youths have yet to benefit from them due to limited support.
Bwambale Norman highlighted the urgent need to resettle people displaced from their ancestral lands in Kitswamba Sub-county and other areas, stressing that residents have been warning of the need for change due to minimal progress in the district.
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