By Jumah Kakomo and Kabuye Ronald
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate, General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has pledged to establish fish ponds along the edges of the Lwera Wetland as an alternative wealth creation strategy to the current rice-growing scheme. He said fish farming is more profitable and environmentally sustainable, citing lessons from the Limoto Presidential Fish Farm in Pallisa District.
Addressing supporters during an NRM presidential campaign rally at Bulakati Playground in Kalungu District, Museveni also committed to establishing an industrial park on UPDF land at Bulakati to create jobs and boost household incomes.
The President further assured residents of plans to install coffee-processing machines in the district to promote value addition and increase farmers’ earnings. He challenged the people of Kalungu to aggressively engage in wealth creation initiatives as guided by the NRM Manifesto, commending farmers who have successfully embraced coffee growing and urging others to join the drive.
Museveni noted that the national coffee campaign has yielded strong results, with Uganda’s coffee exports rising from 3 million to 10 million bags. He guided farmers on the four-acre model, proper enterprise selection, and promised free coffee seedlings and micro-irrigation support.
On infrastructure, Museveni confirmed plans to tarmac the Kabulasoke–Kifampa–Bugomola–Kyamulibwa–Villa Maria road. He highlighted completed works on the Kampala–Kalungu–Masaka road and the Mpigi–Butambala–Kanoni–Sembabule–Masaka road, among others, as part of the NRM government’s strategy to spur economic growth.
The NRM flag bearer blamed opposition Members of Parliament from Kalungu for frustrating development through poor coordination and budget mismanagement, urging voters to support ideologically grounded NRM candidates in the forthcoming elections.
Museveni also promised to extend clean and safe water to the remaining 17 villages, noting that 251 out of 268 villages in Kalungu District already have water access. In health, he approved the elevation of Kalungu Health Centre IV to a district general hospital and pledged to fast-track additional health interventions, noting that only one sub-county lacks a health centre.
In education, Museveni highlighted gains including the construction of 88 government primary schools in 32 of the 37 parishes and 12 government secondary schools across the district’s seven sub-counties. He also assured residents of plans to scale up electricity distribution.
The President encouraged households to adopt specialized skills for wealth creation and employment, pointing to opportunities in commercial agriculture, manufacturing, and the services sector, supported by training at Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs. He emphasized that peace and stability restored by the NRM remain key enablers of development and asked voters to re-elect him for continuity.
NRM Second National Vice Chairperson (Female) Anita Among cautioned voters against electing opposition MPs, whom she accused of undermining development efforts, and outlined additional initiatives planned for Kalungu District. NRM Vice Chairperson for the Buganda Region, Haruna Kasoro, called for the establishment of a coffee-processing factory in the district and urged residents to safeguard peace and stability.
The Kalungu District NRM Chairperson, Twaha Ssonko Kiganda, concluded the rally by reading the district memorandum.
