On a humid afternoon in one of Bugiri’s bustling trading centres, a small circle of parents sat outside a roadside shop, shading themselves from the sun as they talked about the challenges of raising families in today’s economy. Their concerns were familiar, rising school costs, long distances to health facilities, the struggle to afford daily necessities, and the uncertainty of securing a better future for their children. These everyday conversations, echoing across many homes in Busoga, shaped the backdrop to President Museveni’s message in Bugiri: that peace, infrastructure, and economic empowerment remain the foundation upon which families can build stability and escape poverty.
When President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni rose to speak, the chants quieted as most people leaned forward. Education, it turned out, would dominate his message. Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Presidential flagbearer, launched his Busoga sub-region campaign with a rally in Bugiri District, anchoring his day on two themes: expanding access to education and accelerating wealth creation.
He urged the people of Bugiri to renew their trust in the NRM, saying the party’s rejection of sectarian politics had secured Uganda’s stability. “We are a national party with a proven record. From the beginning, we rejected the sectarian politics that divided Uganda in the 1960s. We believe everyone is valuable and that is why Uganda is stable today,” Museveni said.
The President detailed the government’s development record in Busoga, pointing to the reconstruction of key roads such as Jinja–Kampala, Jinja–Tororo, Iganga–Kaliro, and Busita–Namayingo. He added that more roads were lined up for construction, including Jinja–Kamuli–Mbulamuti, Iganga–Kiyunga–Kamuli, and the Bugiri–Namayingo route.
On water supply, Museveni explained that Bugiri’s position within the Lake Victoria basin makes boreholes impractical. He announced a plan to pump water directly from the lake, replicating ongoing projects in Kampala and Lira. “Our plan is to pump water directly from Lake Victoria to the higher areas so that the people of Bugiri get a reliable water supply,” he said.
Education, however, stood out as his biggest concern. Bugiri has 149 government primary schools, yet 44 of its 102 parishes lack a government primary school. “This must stop. Let us ensure every parish has a government primary school,” Museveni said, instructing district leaders to close the gaps.
He noted that only 9 of the district’s 20 sub-counties have government secondary schools. To bridge this gap, he announced three new seed secondary schools under the UgIFT and USEEP programs. He said the government remains committed to its long-standing targets: a primary school in every parish and a secondary school in every sub-county.
Museveni turned to wealth creation, reminding residents that wealth differs from development. He said household prosperity must grow from four sectors: commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and ICT. “Some people confuse development with wealth. Kampala has development, yet some people in the ghettos are still poor,” he said.
He reaffirmed the four-acre model and emphasized the importance of programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga. He also announced targeted funding for youth groups, ghetto communities, boda boda riders, unemployed graduates and religious and cultural institutions.
The President addressed common misconceptions about employment, explaining that government jobs cannot absorb the population. “Government jobs are 480,000, yet we have 50 million Ugandans. Real jobs come from factories, commercial agriculture, services, and ICT. Factories alone now employ 1.3 million Ugandans—three times more than the government,” he said.
He revisited the challenge of implementing free education, blaming resistance from some school heads and PTAs. “We introduced free education in 1996, but some head teachers and PTAs refused to implement it. That’s why I started the Presidential Skilling Hubs,” Museveni said.
During the rally, he handed over NRM flags to aspiring MPs, district chairpersons, councillors and other candidates.
NRM First National Vice Chairman Alhaji Moses Kigongo thanked Bugiri for its support, urging unity ahead of the polls. “Once we are united, we can settle all issues. On voting day, go out and support our Chairman,” he said.
Calvin Echodu, the NRM Vice Chairperson for Eastern Region, praised the turnout and congratulated the President for completing his Bukedi tour before entering Busoga. Rebecca Kadaga called for greater focus on industrialization, tourism and safe water in the region.
Solomon Silwany, the NRM Chairperson for Bugiri District, thanked the President for the development gains that have uplifted communities in the area.
Museveni closed the rally by reaffirming his message on peace, roads, water and education, telling the crowd, “Mbeyanziza Inhno!”