When the morning mist lifted over Bukwo’s mountain slopes, the scars of the recent landslides were still visible, homes buried, gardens flattened, and families grieving. It was here, at Amanang Secondary School playgrounds, that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party flagbearer in the 2026 presidential elections met thousands of residents with a message of condolence, hope, and renewal.
“I extend condolences to the people of Bukwo for the death of our people who were swept by landslides in the mountains,” he said solemnly. “The government will support the families of the victims even more.”
The President’s visit to Sebei on November 10 marked not just a campaign stop, but a reflection on Uganda’s journey toward peace, development, and wealth creation, themes that have defined his decades in leadership. This time, his message carried a new urgency: learning to live wisely with the mountain that both sustains and threatens lives.
A Mountain of Promise and Peril
Museveni described Mount Elgon as one of Africa’s great ecological treasures, “the mother of the River Nile” whose rivers nourish Uganda and the continent. Yet, he warned, the growing population and unplanned farming on its slopes have made it increasingly vulnerable to disasters.
“In the past, when the population was small, the mountain was safe. Now that more people have settled there, we must use it wisely,” he said. “Agriculture is not the only way; tourism is another major opportunity.”
He proposed new strategies after the 2026 elections to guide sustainable living and alternative livelihoods for mountain communities. Drawing comparisons with Europe, he said: “People in the Alps live in valleys and use the mountains for sports and tourism. I will organize a trip for some of our people from Rwenzori and Elgon to see how others live.”
Peace and Stability First
Turning to Uganda’s broader progress, Museveni reminded residents that peace, not just policy, remains the foundation of development.
“You, the people of Bukwo, know what lack of peace is,” he said, recalling the years of cross-border raids and rebel threats. “Now, the whole of Uganda is peaceful, and anyone who tries to bring trouble will be dealt with.”
He attributed Uganda’s stability to the NRM’s ideology of patriotism and African unity: “We believe in loving Uganda and Africa without caring about religion or tribe. That’s why we have built strong national institutions.”
Roads, Water, and Power
From the valleys of Kapchorwa to the ridges of Bukwo, evidence of the NRM’s infrastructural imprint is clear. The President recounted the transformation of the sub-region through landmark road projects including the Kapchorwa to Suam, Mbale to Bubulo to Lwakhakha, and Namusni to Sironko to Kapchorwa roads, all of which have opened Sebei to trade and tourism.
“We pushed from Mbale to Kapchorwa even when we had no money,” he recalled. “I used the compensation money from Kenya to construct the Kapchorwa to Mbale road.”
In addition, he said, each district now receives Shs 1 billion annually for road maintenance.
Water access has also improved. Bukwo now boasts 45.2% safe water coverage, with several new piped water systems serving thousands. Museveni, however, warned against corruption in water projects, urging citizens to “follow the money” through their Local Councils.
Education, Health, and Skills for Growth
The President reaffirmed his commitment to free education, lamenting that some schools still charge illegal fees. “In the next government, I want all of us to agree that we should have free education for children in primary and secondary government schools,” he said.
He noted that Bukwo has 49 government and 44 private primary schools, and 10 government secondary schools. Three new Seed Secondary Schools are under construction to bridge the education gap.
Concerning health, Museveni announced plans to upgrade Bukwo Health Centre IV to a General Hospital and elevate several HCII facilities to HCIIIs. New health centers will also be constructed in sub-counties without medical services.
He also highlighted the Sebei Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub in Kween, where over 1,149 youths have trained in trades like tailoring, welding, and carpentry, practical skills meant to drive local enterprise.
Turning Development into Wealth
Museveni’s core message echoed one of his long-standing economic philosophies that development and wealth are not the same.
“Yes, there is peace and development, but you must add wealth,” he said. “Development is ours, but wealth is yours.”
Under the Parish Development Model (PDM), Bukwo has received Shs 33.4 billion, benefiting over 35,000 households. Museveni urged residents to invest the funds productively, explaining that “the government has 480,000 jobs, but we are 40 million Ugandans. Jobs come from wealth creation.”
He advised farmers to adopt the four-acre model, one acre for coffee, another for fruits, one for food, and one for pasture — to build sustainable household income.
To illustrate Uganda’s industrial progress, he played a short video of the Sino Industrial Park in Mbale, which he described as “a town of factories.”
“These factories produce what we used to import. This is the way to go,” he said.
Local Voices and Political Commitment
Local leaders, led by Bukwo NRM Chairperson Abubaker Nyandani, assured Museveni of continued support, pledging more than 87% of the district’s votes in the 2026 elections.
“Bukwo doesn’t have a single market,” Nyandani noted. “We need inter-boda markets to boost trade and livelihoods.”
In 2021, Museveni won 87.4% of Bukwo’s vote. With growing infrastructure, peace, and livelihood programs, NRM leaders believe the 2026 results will surpass that figure.
As the rally closed, the President’s message was clear, Sebei’s future lies not just in rebuilding from disaster, but in mastering how to live, grow, and prosper with its mountain.