By Jumah Kakomo and Kabuye Ronald
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate, General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has said the visible infrastructural developments in Kagadi District and the entire Bunyoro sub-region are a clear manifestation of the NRM government’s contribution to the area. He rallied voters to renew his mandate in the forthcoming general elections to enable the government to implement more socio-economic development interventions.
Speaking during an NRM presidential campaign rally at Muhooro BCS Play Grounds in Kagadi District, Museveni urged residents to take advantage of the existing developments to create wealth at individual and household levels and to move away from subsistence living.
The President promised to establish an additional Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub for the southern Bunyoro sub-region to boost youth skilling initiatives. He noted that the current hub located in Masindi District requires complementary support from another facility, which is planned for Kagadi District or a neighbouring area.
Museveni also pledged to fast-track the tarmacking of the Kagadi–Ndaiga road as part of efforts to expand tarmac road coverage in the district. Other commitments made include the operationalisation of the Shs360 billion support fund for tea farmers and the construction of Isunga Memorial School.
The NRM flag bearer advised the electorate to vote for leaders with a clear focus on development and socio-economic transformation, rather than those driven by sectarian interests such as religion, tribe, or gender. He said the NRM’s politics of shared interests has fostered unity and enabled the establishment of strong national institutions and public service, which voters should safeguard by electing like-minded leaders.
Museveni further guided households in Kagadi District to specialise in wealth creation by focusing on specific enterprises among the seven priority enterprises proposed by the NRM government. He highlighted the availability of job opportunities in skills development and the private sector, which he said offer better prospects than public service employment.
He cited success stories of graduates from the Bunyoro Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub, noting that many have transformed their livelihoods through skills acquired under the free government initiative. The President also advised both small- and large-scale landowners on appropriate land utilisation for sustainable wealth creation and outlined profitable economic enterprises suitable for the district.
Museveni assured residents that the NRM government will continue to promote job creation through socio-economic and wealth creation programmes, particularly those linked to commercial enterprises supported by government.
Meanwhile, the NRM Vice Chairperson for the Western Region, Jornad Asiimwe, called on Kagadi voters to embrace unity ahead of the polls. The NRM National Vice Chairperson, Anita Among, highlighted development milestones achieved by the NRM government in Kagadi District and outlined more interventions planned under the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV).
The Kagadi District NRM Chairperson, Karungi Erukana Mpozza, presented the district status memorandum during the rally.
In a major political development, Brian Asingwire, the National Unity Platform (NUP) flag bearer for Buyaga East, defected to the NRM and withdrew from the race in support of NRM candidate Steven Twesige Rulekere. He was joined by David Muhumuza, an independent candidate leaning towards the NRM, who also stepped down from the Mwenge North parliamentary contest in favour of NRM’s Akugizibwe Lawrence.
Both defections were publicly declared during the NRM presidential campaign rally at Muhooro BCS Play Grounds in Kagadi District.
