When a 68 year old Mzee recently told his grandchildren that “Busoga’s soil kept secrets that saved the country,” the children laughed, until he revealed how families once hid fighters, fed them, and prayed they would survive Amin’s wrath. His story echoed across Namutumba on Monday, when President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni returned to the region not just to campaign, but to honour the people he called “comrades of the struggle.”
At Kaiti Cell in Namutumba Town Council, President Museveni saluted Busoga residents for their courage during Uganda’s liberation years, saying their sacrifices laid the foundation for today’s peace. He stood beside the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, as thousands gathered to hear why Busoga remains central to his political message.
Museveni reminded the crowd that the region offered covert support between 1971 and 1973. He recalled families who sheltered him, and he mourned those who were executed for aiding the fighters. “Busoga cadres stood with us for long, including Nkooko and Ntale who were executed in Jinja for supporting us,” he said.
He framed peace as the “first brick” of the NRM’s contribution to Uganda’s transformation and insisted that stability came from years of sacrifice. He said the 2026–2031 NRM Manifesto will focus first on preserving that peace.
The President then turned to development, the “second brick,” pointing to major infrastructure gains. He highlighted the fully tarmacked Nakalama–Busembatya–Namutumba–Tirinyi–Budaka–Mbale road. He added that the Nabumali–Butaleja–Namutumba, Busembatya–Nsinze–Kibale–Ivukula–Namakokola, and Kaliro–Ivukula–Naziba roads are planned for the next financial year. “Today you don’t have to pass through Tororo to reach Mbale,” he said. “You go to Tororo only if you are going to Kenya.”
He noted that electricity now reaches all district headquarters except Naikona and said government is extending supply to sub-county centres. In Namutumba, power has already reached Bulange, Namutumba and Nsinze Town Councils, with more areas expected.
Museveni expressed concern about gaps in water access and directed leaders to respond urgently. Only 280 of the district’s 629 villages have safe water. Education, he said, has improved, but only 51 of the 111 parishes have government primary schools. He added that only seven of the 20 sub-counties have government secondary schools. Construction of three Seed Secondary Schools is ongoing.
Regarding health, he announced that government will upgrade nine Health Centre IIs to IIIs. He added that new HCIIIs will be built in Nabweyo and Bugobi.
Wealth creation formed the third pillar of his message. Museveni urged households to embrace programmes such as NAADS, Emyooga and the Parish Development Model. He shared examples of Namutumba farmers who used small plots to profit from dairy farming, coffee, cocoa, poultry and fish. He noted that productive land use can raise household incomes.
Maama Janet Museveni thanked Busoga residents for their loyalty to the NRM and urged them to safeguard peace, which she said has powered national progress. She also reminded them that Busoga University has now been operationalised.
NRM First National Vice Chairperson Alhajji Moses Kigongo encouraged the people to support President Museveni in the next election. Eastern Region NRM Chairperson Calvin Echodu praised the turnout, while First Deputy Prime Minister Rebecca Kadaga asked the government to establish an Industrial Park in Namutumba to expand jobs and value addition. Namutumba District NRM Chairperson Simon Menya thanked the President for wealth creation programmes and road investments.
As the rally closed, Museveni said he would continue spreading the NRM message in Buyende and Kaliro, reaffirming that Busoga remains one of the places “where we fought” and one that continues to shape Uganda’s political journey.
