President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reiterated his commitment to accelerating infrastructure development as a key driver of economic transformation in the Rwenzori region.
Speaking during his first campaign rally in the area at Nyakasanga playground in Kasese Municipality on Thursday, the President criticised local and national leaders for what he termed a chronic failure to prioritise strategic projects. Museveni argued that Uganda’s development has often been slowed by attempting to execute many projects simultaneously, resulting in thinly spread resources and stalled progress.
He urged leaders to adopt a more disciplined, phased approach to planning and implementation. Among the major projects highlighted, Museveni cited recent discussions with Kenya’s President William Ruto on fast-tracking the expansion of the Standard Gauge Railway.
The government intends to rehabilitate and modernise the railway corridor from Kampala to Kasese, a move he said would improve connectivity, reduce transport costs, and enhance regional trade. He further disclosed plans to upgrade Kasese Airfield into a fully-fledged modern airport to bolster tourism and expand business opportunities across the Rwenzori region.
The President also aligned himself with local demands for affirmative action, acknowledging that larger districts, such as Kasese and Ntungamo, require increased resource allocation due to their size and unique development challenges. He pledged additional Road Fund financing and the deployment of more road construction units to support service delivery.
Museveni urged residents to reflect on the National Resistance Movement’s seven pillars, which he said underpin Uganda’s socio-economic transformation. These include peace and security, development, improved household incomes, industrialisation, and job creation.
He called on the people of Kasese to remain ambassadors of the stability the NRM government has secured, pointing to the containment of security threats from the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo as a key example. He encouraged residents to use their land productively to drive household and regional prosperity.
Earlier, the Kasese NRM District Chairperson, James Mbahimba, appealed to the President to expedite long-standing pledges to the district. These include constructing a palace for Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere, compensating families affected by ADF rebellions, and resolving persistent land conflicts.
Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, who accompanied the President, pointed to the improved road network in Kasese Municipality as evidence of the government’s commitment to the region.
She expressed confidence that with sustained development, “the opposition will be wiped out” of Kasese. Among also announced that government has allocated Shs 136 billion for the desilting of River Nyamwamba and is pursuing plans to resettle families displaced by the 2020 floods.
However, not all residents were satisfied. Benjamin Masereka, a voter from Kanyangeya Ward, said he was disappointed that President Museveni did not address the long-standing issue of land conflicts, which continue to spark tension and displacement in various parts of the district.
Thursday’s rally was part of a broader campaign trail in the Rwenzori sub-region. The President also addressed supporters in Bunyangabu District and is expected to hold rallies in Bundibugyo and Ntoroko on Friday.
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