President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has promised continued investment in infrastructure, wealth creation, and job opportunities in Kabarole District and Fort Portal City if re-elected in the 2026 general elections.
Speaking during a campaign rally at St. Leo’s Kyegobe Playground on Friday afternoon, Museveni said the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has laid a strong foundation for stability and transformation in the Rwenzori region.
He said residents understand the value of peace because of insecurity in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. “We rejected sectarian politics. That is how we built a strong army, police, and judiciary,” Museveni said.
The President highlighted major road works as a key driver of economic growth, noting that tarmac once stopped in Mityana before the NRM extended the Mityana–Mubende–Fort Portal road and built several others across the region. He promised that both tarmac and marrum road projects would continue.
Museveni, however, expressed concern over poor maintenance of marrum roads. He said government funds are sometimes mismanaged or insufficient at sub-county level and pledged action to address the problem.
On public service concerns, Museveni revisited teachers’ demands for salary enhancement. He said government prioritised critical sectors including security and road infrastructure, which have protected national stability for years. “Even soldiers still live in grass-thatched houses because we had to secure the country first,” he explained.
He reminded citizens that infrastructure alone does not guarantee personal prosperity. Using the example of a farmer in Rubirizi District, he said individuals must embrace commercial production. “Development is public, wealth is personal,” Museveni said.
He encouraged farmers with small landholding to adopt the four-acre model he introduced in 1996, combining coffee, fruits, pasture, food crops, poultry, piggery and fish farming. He said government would establish a fertiliser revolving fund to increase productivity.
Museveni reported that Uganda’s coffee output has reached nine million bags annually, which he said reflects rising household incomes and national growth.
He further stressed that job creation comes from commercial agriculture, factories, ICT, and services. He confirmed government has already secured 10 square miles in Kyaka for an industrial park to serve the region. He also urged urban youth to enrol in skilling programmes to secure future employment.
Kabarole District NRM Chairperson Hon. Victoria Businge Rusoke praised the peace ushered in by the ruling party and promised 99 percent support for Museveni in the polls. Fort Portal City NRM Chairperson Mrs. Claire Kasande also commended government investments in education, health, water and electrification projects.