At Booma Grounds in Butaleja, an elderly rice farmer raised a handful of sun-dried grains and told those around him, “This is what peace has given us.” The simple gesture captured the spirit of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s message as he addressed thousands of supporters on Thursday: that Butaleja’s progress is a direct return on Uganda’s hard-won stability.
President Museveni, who is also the NRM Presidential flag bearer, promised to upgrade the Nabumali–Butaleja–Namutumba Road and the Tororo–Nagongera–Busolwe Road. He said the two roads had faced delays but were now fully funded, with a contractor already identified.
“Now we have secured the funds, and the contractor has already been identified,” he said. “These roads would have been completed earlier if priorities were handled properly. Let’s learn how to plan and execute effectively.”
He attributed the delays to poor budgeting and the tendency to overload government plans. He said critical projects get stuck when too many demands are placed on a single budget cycle.
“When people bring too many things into the budget at the same time, important projects get scattered,” he said. “Members of Parliament and the population must understand that you cannot pursue everything at once.”
The President reflected on Butaleja’s difficult past and said instability contributed to the slow pace of development. “The elders here witnessed the challenges of cattle rustling, rebel activity, and instability. Otherwise, these roads could have been done long ago,” he said.
President Museveni praised the district for making strides in social services. He said Butaleja had achieved 94 percent safe-water coverage across its 443 villages. He also welcomed the growth of irrigation schemes in Doho and Walala, which draw water from rivers to support high-yield farming.
He noted that all sub-counties in the district have electricity connections, though some sub-county headquarters still await final linking. On health, he said one sub-county hosts a district hospital, another has a Health Centre IV, and 11 have Health Centre IIIs, leaving only two sub-counties without HCIIIs.
President Museveni commended farmers for embracing irrigated rice production. “Rice grown under irrigation yields Sh7 million per acre before costs, and Sh5 million after costs,” he said. “This is the productive rice, not the one growing in the swamp.”
He reiterated his seven-activity farming model, which includes one acre for coffee, one acre for fruit, a third acre for pasture and zero grazing, and a fourth acre for food crops, with poultry, piggery, and fish farming complementing the system. He said the model guarantees income and food security, and is already transforming households.
“These activities provide both income and food security,” he said. “People who have interpreted our message are now doing well.”
The President urged residents to build on the gains brought by improved infrastructure, stable governance and modern agriculture. He said proper planning remains central to sustainable development in Butaleja and across the country.
During the event, President Museveni handed over NRM flags to parliamentary aspirants, the LC V chairperson, councillors, and other party candidates, endorsing them for the 2026 elections.
The rally was attended by NRM CEC members, Members of Parliament, religious and cultural leaders, and thousands of enthusiastic supporters.
