Rukiga – Former Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda has praised President Yoweri Museveni for what he described as major improvements in Uganda’s health indicators, noting significant gains in life expectancy and reductions in infant mortality.

Rugunda made the remarks on Tuesday while addressing NRM supporters gathered at Rushebeya in Rukiga District.

“We should thank the President by giving all our votes to him. Even Fr Gaetano has agreed to vote for our candidate,” Rugunda told the crowd.

He said government-led health interventions, especially universal immunisation, had transformed the lives of Ugandans over the last decades.
“Life expectancy of Ugandans has gone up. It was at 43 years, now it is 68. This deserves appreciation,” he said.

Rugunda added that infant mortality had fallen sharply: “Years back the infant mortality rate used to be 122 deaths per 1,000 children. Now it is at 28 per 1,000.”
The NRM supporters turned up in large numbers at Rushebeya to welcome Museveni, the Party Presidential Flagbearer, who was in the district to unpack his 2026–31 Manifesto. The Party National Chairman arrived with his daughter, Patience Rwabwogo, and was received by several senior leaders.In his address, President Museveni highlighted the “seven bricks” he said the NRM has contributed to building Uganda.

He cited peace as the foundation, recalling that Kigezi—because of its proximity to the Democratic Republic of Congo—once suffered frequent insecurity.

“We have brought Uganda from very far… now all that is gone,” Museveni said.