By Otim Nape
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni launched his National Resistance Movement (NRM) campaign in Kasese on Thursday, unveiling a series of ambitious infrastructure projects aimed at boosting tourism, regional trade, and economic growth in the Rwenzori Sub-region.
Speaking at Nyakasanga Playground, Museveni outlined plans for a new international airport and a Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line to Kasese, building on the government’s ongoing efforts to improve the region’s transport networks.
Kasese, a district that borders conflict-ridden eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, has long been a symbol of Uganda’s stability, and Museveni used this backdrop to emphasize the critical role of peace in driving development.
“Kasese is a witness to peace,” he said, noting Uganda’s commitment to hosting over 700,000 Congolese refugees fleeing the violence.
He also reassured residents that any groups seeking to destabilize the region had been defeated, vowing that Uganda’s peace “will remain like ripe bananas, you only see them, but you cannot touch or eat them.”
Highlighting the government’s track record over the past 40 years, Museveni praised the NRM’s focus on peace, development, and wealth creation, especially through infrastructure upgrades.
He pointed to ongoing projects such as the rehabilitation of key roads, including the Fort Portal–Kasese highway, the Katunguru
Ishaka road, and the Kikorongo–Bwera road, which he said would soon be further improved.
Museveni also announced plans for the Mityana–Kyegegwa road and promised to allocate additional road machinery to districts like Kasese, where road maintenance funds remain limited.
A key feature of his vision for the region’s development is enhanced connectivity. “We want every sub-county connected to the national grid,” he stated, noting that nearly all districts are now electrified, with the exception of Buvuma Island.
He also emphasized the government’s commitment to bringing electricity to all sub-counties, further supporting local businesses and households.
On the economic front, Museveni reiterated his long-standing emphasis on commercial agriculture as the foundation of job creation. He encouraged Kasese residents to embrace the “four-acre model” planting coffee, fruits, food crops, and raising livestock to increase productivity and income.
He shared the success story of dairy farmer George Matongo, who earns 21 million shillings a month despite living in an area without tarmac roads or electricity.
The President also outlined a broader economic vision, citing the importance of industrialization and services in generating employment.
“Factories have created 1.3 million jobs, compared to 480,000 government jobs,” he noted, urging youth to take advantage of skilling centers for better employment opportunities.
Museveni also warned of swift action against individuals accused of embezzling funds from the Parish Development Model, a government initiative designed to lift people out of poverty.
In the realm of tourism, which generates over $1.2 billion in foreign exchange annually, Museveni unveiled plans to build a new international airport in Kasese, a project expected to unlock the region’s potential as a key tourist hub.
He also announced the extension of the Standard Gauge Railway to the district, which will enhance regional trade and reduce the cost of doing business.
Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, who accompanied the President, expressed gratitude for the stability Museveni has maintained in Kasese and pressed for the upgrade of Kasese Airfield into an international airport.
Local NRM leaders, including Kasese District NRM Chairperson Mbahimba James, praised the government’s achievements in improving roads, schools, hospitals, and access to clean water but called for further intervention in specific trouble spots like Lwehingo and Kabukero.
As the campaign trail continues through the Rwenzori Sub-region, Museveni remains focused on his message of peace, infrastructure development, and economic empowerment, promising to further uplift the region’s people and ensure that Uganda’s progress remains steady in the face of global challenges.(For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
