President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has cautioned leaders in Bundibugyo District against engaging in divisive politics, urging them instead to focus on unity, accountability, and service delivery.
The NRM Presidential Flagbearer delivered the message while addressing thousands of supporters, reminding residents that their proximity to the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo gives them firsthand knowledge of the value of peace.
Museveni reflected on the suffering endured by Congolese communities who have lived through decades of armed conflict, noting that Uganda once faced similar turmoil before the NRM restored stability. “You people who live along the country’s borders know the true meaning of peace,” he said. “Many people across the border have died, property destroyed, and time wasted. Uganda was once like the DRC, but when the NRM took leadership, we stabilized the country.”
The President reiterated the NRM’s core contributions—peace and development—emphasizing that government has invested in both economic and social infrastructure. He recalled the early struggle to develop road networks, narrating how Uganda lacked money and had to barter sorghum with Yugoslavia to build the Kampala–Mubende road, which later extended to Fort Portal, Bundibugyo, and Lamia. He pledged that the dilapidated Fort Portal–Bundibugyo section will be repaired soon, attributing delays to competing demands from leaders.
Museveni highlighted the district’s progress in education and health. Bundibugyo now has 107 government primary schools and 12 secondary schools, part of the broader national plan to ensure a primary school in every parish and a secondary school in every sub-county. On health, he promised to renovate the government facility in the area, stressing the NRM’s long-standing strategy of prevention before cure. He urged the youth to prioritise healthy habits, immunization, clean water, and good feeding, noting that Uganda has eradicated polio and measles, which in the past killed many children. The President credited preventive health measures for the district’s population growth from around 50,000 to nearly 300,000.
However, Museveni expressed concern about the theft of medicines in health facilities, calling on residents to take political responsibility and reject leaders driven by tribalism or self-interest. “Stop mixing politics with tribes and religion,” he warned. “We said vote leaders who protect public interests. If leaders steal your medicines, question them. Report them.”
He reminded residents that they hold the power to end corruption by electing capable leaders. Museveni shared that when he visited Bundibugyo during the 1997 ADF insurgency, the roads were poor, yet people were generating wealth through cocoa, coffee, and palm oil. This, he said, demonstrates the importance of distinguishing between development—built by government—and wealth, which families must pursue through productivity.
The President encouraged residents to embrace the four-acre model introduced in 1996 to support smallholder farmers in growing both food and commercial crops. He said job creation is another key NRM achievement, noting that while wealth belongs to individuals, jobs arise from their economic activities.
Museveni urged leaders to unite the community, protect public resources, and focus on maximizing the district’s potential as he continues to reinforce peace, development, and economic transformation in Bundibugyo.