President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the NRM Presidential Flag-bearer, on Thursday crossed from Kigezi into the Ankole, launching his sub-regional campaign trail in Isingiro District with a strong message focused on wealth creation, jobs, and economic transformation.
The President was accompanied by First Daughter Mrs. Patience Rwabwogo Museveni, who joined him in mobilizing residents across the district.
Addressing a mammoth crowd at the Isingiro District Headquarters, Museveni opened with a reflection on Uganda’s transformation from conflict to stability. He thanked God for the peace the country enjoys, recalling the years when he passed through the same area with guns during the liberation struggles of 1972, 1979, and 1985.
“Today we have gathered peacefully, well-dressed, dancing, and united,” he said. “I thank God, and I thank the NRM for restoring peace in Uganda.”
Museveni highlighted the NRM’s achievements in restoring peace and improving regional infrastructure. He listed completed roads such as the Mbarara–Kikagate–Isingiro road and the Kachumbala–Kabale–Ntungamo Road, and reaffirmed government commitment to upgrading remaining priority routes, including the Kikagate–Kitwe–Namahimba road and the Kabingo–Rwekubo–Rugaaga–Endizi–Magabi–Rakai–Mutukula road, saying these were key to opening markets and boosting access for farmers.
The President shifted his emphasis to Uganda’s next phase of economic transformation, insisting that development alone is not enough and that household wealth must now take centre stage. He explained the common confusion between development and wealth creation, noting that even in highly developed urban centres like Kampala, some residents remain poor because they have not embraced income-generating activities.
He outlined four pillars of wealth creation—commercial agriculture, manufacturing and factories, services such as transport and hospitality, and ICT. He reminded residents that the Four-Acre Model, introduced in the 1996 NRM Manifesto, remains a practical pathway for small households to escape poverty. The model allocates one acre to coffee, one acre to fruits, one to pasture for dairy cattle, and one to food crops for household consumption, with backyard poultry or piggery and fish farming for those living near wetlands.
Museveni stressed that jobs are created through these wealth-creation sectors, not government appointments. He explained that Uganda has only about 480,000 government jobs for a population of 50 million, making it impossible for the public sector to absorb everyone. He cited Mbale Industrial Park, now hosting more than 75 factories that have created thousands of jobs, and revealed that new factories across the country have created 1.3 million jobs—nearly three times more than the public sector.
The President reiterated the importance of PDM and Emyooga in lifting households out of poverty but condemned local officials who demand land titles before releasing PDM funds. “This is totally wrong,” he said. “PDM rules do not indicate that you must have land or any form of security to access the funds. As long as you have a viable project, you should be able to get support.” He encouraged residents to report any district workers who ask for bribes during recruitment, saying jobs must be awarded on merit.
Museveni advised banana farmers in the predominantly banana-growing district to adopt irrigation and modern methods to boost yields, noting that this would strengthen their position in national and regional markets. He later handed over NRM flags to aspiring MPs, LC V chairpersons, councillors, and other candidates in Isingiro, formally endorsing them for the upcoming elections.
Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, also the NRM’s Second National Vice Chairperson, praised Isingiro for its discipline, accountability, and overwhelming support for the NRM. She revealed that leaders had earlier launched a workers’ SACCO to enhance incomes in the district and commended ongoing government water projects serving both host communities and refugees.
State Minister for Agriculture Hon. Lt. Col. Bright Rwamirama assured the President of massive support. NRM District Chairperson Lt. Moses Mushabe recalled that Isingiro delivered 94% of the vote in the 2021 general elections and pledged an even higher percentage in the next polls.
He highlighted the district’s rapid growth—30 sub-counties and town councils, 131 parishes, 901 villages, and a population of 635,077—alongside increasing demand for health services, especially because the area hosts refugees. Mushabe reported that Isingiro has received UGX 47.1 billion under PDM, with 41,131 households already benefiting, and UGX 3.35 billion under Emyooga supporting 89 SACCOs with 31,901 members.
The district’s education sector includes 197 government primary schools, 543 private primary schools, 21 government secondary schools, and 75 private secondary schools. Seven new Seed Secondary Schools are under construction to close gaps in underserved parishes. Through the Presidential Industrial Skilling Hubs, 1,226 youth have been trained, with 247 currently enrolled in various trades.
Isingiro’s health infrastructure comprises 4 HCIVs and 26 HCIIIs, though 8 sub-counties still lack government health facilities.
Government plans to upgrade existing units and construct new HCIIIs in Kabingo and Kagarama. Water access stands at 51%, supported by major piped water systems, gravity-flow schemes, protected springs, borehole rehabilitation, and ongoing works including the Isingiro Piped Water and Sanitation System.
Government has invested heavily in water for production, with large valley tanks, small-scale irrigation schemes, dam rehabilitation, and the flagship Kabuyanda Multipurpose Dam, which will benefit 32,000 farmers across 38 villages. The district is now fully connected to the national electricity grid, powering homes, businesses, and public institutions.
The event drew NRM CEC members, MPs, religious and cultural leaders, and thousands of supporters who welcomed President Museveni as he opened the Ankole chapter of his 2026 campaign.
