Budaka District native Michael Onganga once dropped out of primary school due to prohibitive fees. Today, he manages a thriving welding workshop in Budaka and provides employment for two staff members. Onganga is one of the thousands of youth transformed by the presidential skilling hubs, a policy championed by the NRM government to equip school dropouts with practical skills.
On Thursday, November 13, 2025, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni stood at Saaza Grounds in Budaka District, showcasing Onganga’s story and similar examples. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Presidential flag bearer told thousands of supporters that his party does not rely on merely making promises. Instead, the NRM presents tangible results from its past four decades in power that it intends to consolidate in the next term.
“The NRM is not just promising, but presenting what has already been done,” President Museveni said.
Peace, Roads, and Water Coverage
The President emphasized that peace remains the foundational contribution of the NRM. He noted that peace paved the way for subsequent development, which arrived in two parts: economic and social infrastructure.
He highlighted major infrastructure projects recently completed in the Bukedi sub-region. These included the Iganga–Mbale road, the Tirinyi–Pallisa–Kumi road, and the Pallisa–Kamonkoli–Mbale road. Work on the Nabumali–Butaleja–Namutumba road is currently in the pipeline.
The President reported excellent progress on water coverage in Budaka District. Budaka has achieved 93% access to safe water across its rural villages. The Budaka Town Council Piped Water System and the Kamonkoli Piped Water System are both operational, serving over 35,000 people combined.
Wealth Creation and the 4-Acre Model
President Museveni underscored that while the government builds infrastructure, families must take responsibility for wealth creation.
“Development is ours, but wealth and poverty are yours. Roads and electricity are for everyone, but what you have in your home depends on you,” he stressed.
He urged residents to adopt the 4-acre model, which the NRM introduced in its 1996 manifesto. This model reserves one acre each for coffee, food crops, pasture, and fruits, supplemented by piggery, poultry, and fish farming. President Museveni cited the success of farmer Joseph Ijala in Serere District, who earns over Shs6 million per day from eggs and milk.
He also referenced his own model farm in Baralegi, Lira District, demonstrating the profitability of fish farming. “From one fish pond of half an acre, I earn Shs100 million annually and save Shs.70 million after costs,” he noted.
Skilling Hubs and Job Creation
The President passionately defended the policy of free education which he introduced three decades ago. He expressed disappointment over the continued practice of charging school fees in public schools, which forces children to drop out.
He showcased the transformation achieved by the presidential skilling hubs, like the one in Tirinyi, Kibuku District, that serves the Bukedi sub-region. Jane Lagose, another beneficiary, now operates her own tailoring workshop after dropping out of Senior Two.
“These children had lost hope because of school fees, but after six months of training, they are producing items that used to be imported,” Museveni said. “In the next term, we shall ensure no child is deprived of free education.”
The President stated that job creation is the fourth pillar of NRM’s achievements. He noted that factories now employ 1.3 million people across Uganda, significantly surpassing the 480,000 employed in government service. He welcomed the idea of establishing an industrial park in Budaka to further boost employment.
Commitment to Social Services
President Museveni detailed plans to close gaps in the health and education sectors. He pledged the government's commitment to ensuring that every parish has at least one government primary school and every sub-county has a government secondary school.
In the health sector, the plan is to construct or upgrade facilities until all 20 sub-counties in Budaka have a Health Centre III. Ultimately, one existing facility will be upgraded to a district hospital.
The rally was well-attended by senior NRM officials. NRM National Treasurer Barbara Nekesa Oundo presented the “Bukedi Service Delivery Handbook,” a document detailing the NRM’s progress in the region under the theme “Protecting the Gains.”
