President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged voters in Bukonzo East, Kasese District, to prioritise commercial agriculture, tourism and manufacturing as the most sustainable pathways to wealth creation and job growth.
Campaigning in the area on Monday, President Museveni said the peace and stability enjoyed in Kasese and across the country have provided a firm foundation for development, especially in border districts that have previously faced insecurity.
He noted that residents of Kasese, who live near the Democratic Republic of Congo and have experienced both conflict and calm, clearly understand the value of peace.
“Peace and stability are the foundation of everything,” President Museveni said, adding that Uganda’s improved security situation is the result of clear politics and the rejection of divisive identity-based politics.
The President assured residents that although the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) remain active in eastern DRC, they no longer pose a threat to Uganda’s security.
President Museveni highlighted infrastructure development as a key achievement of the NRM government, pointing to improved roads, schools, health centres, electricity and communication networks in Kasese.
He said the extension of electricity to areas that previously had none demonstrated how far the region had progressed.
Turning to household incomes, President Museveni urged residents to actively fight poverty by engaging in productive economic activities, particularly commercial agriculture.
He emphasised the importance of irrigation in Kasese to increase agricultural output, noting that national production of coffee, bananas, sugar and maize has grown significantly, even though not all citizens are yet benefiting equally.
On employment, President Museveni said government should not be the biggest employer, arguing that sustainable jobs come from wealth-creating sectors.
“Jobs come from commercial agriculture, manufacturing and services, not government offices,” he said, citing a farmer in Busoga who created more than 300 jobs through farming.
He also identified manufacturing and tourism as critical engines of employment, welcoming calls from leaders and residents for an industrial park in Kasese.
President Museveni said tourism globally generates more income than coffee and has enormous potential in the Rwenzori region.
“The future of Kasese lies in commercial agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing,” he said, calling on voters to support the NRM to consolidate the gains already made.
Earlier, NRM Vice Chairperson for Western Region, Jonard Asiimwe, thanked residents for turning up in large numbers and congratulated President Museveni for his nationwide campaign engagements.
He reminded the President about the proposed industrial park in Kasese and invited him to return to the district to lay a memorial stone at Katebwa.
President Museveni concluded by pledging continued government support for Kasese, including additional equipment and funding for road maintenance, citing the district’s size and growing economic activity.
He also encouraged leaders to welcome defectors from the opposition and integrate them into parish SACCOs to benefit from government programmes.
“Welcome them. We are going to add more money from PDM from Shs100 million to between Shs200 million and Shs300 million,” President Museveni said.
