By Frank Kamuntu
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Monday, November 10, 2025, held his first campaign rally in the Sebei sub-region, assuring residents of Bukwo District of stronger government support following recent landslides that claimed lives and destroyed property.
Speaking to thousands at Amanang Secondary School playgrounds, President Museveni began by expressing condolences to affected families and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to assist them.
“I extend condolences to the people of Bukwo for the death of our citizens swept by landslides in the mountains. We shall support the families of the victims. I have already sent some initial support, but the government as a whole will provide even more,” he said.
The President emphasized the ecological significance of Mount Elgon, describing it as one of the mothers of the River Nile, and stressed the need for its preservation for Uganda and Africa at large.
“This mountain is very precious and important for the Sebei, for Eastern Uganda, and for Africa. All these rivers that start here end up in the Nile. We must know how to live and use this mountain wisely,” he said.
President Museveni attributed the increasing frequency of landslides to population pressure and unplanned human activity on the slopes, noting that while population growth is a sign of progress, it requires responsible land use and environmental management.
He announced plans for a detailed post-election discussion on sustainable strategies for mountain settlements and livelihoods, encouraging residents to explore alternatives to farming on steep slopes, citing European examples.
“Agriculture is not the only way to use this mountain. In Europe, people live in valleys and use the mountains for sports and tourism. I will organize a trip to Europe for some people from Rwenzori and Elgon to see how others live in the Alps,” he said.
He cautioned against cultivating steep slopes, warning that such practices invite disasters. “The mountain is not the problem. We must learn how to live with it, especially with our growing population,” he added.
President Museveni, who is also the NRM presidential candidate, reminded the crowd that the ruling party’s greatest contribution over the last four decades has been restoring peace and stability.
“You, the people of Bukwo, know what lack of peace is,” he said, referencing past insecurity caused by cross-border conflicts with Pokot warriors in Kenya and rebel activity in Mount Elgon.
“But now, the whole of Uganda is peaceful from east to south to west, and anybody who tries to bring trouble will be dealt with decisively,” he added.
He credited this peace to the NRM’s ideological clarity anchored in patriotism and African unity. “We believe in loving Uganda and Africa without caring about religion or tribe. If you do good things, you’re with us. If you do bad things, we oppose you.”
The President said this principle has enabled Uganda to build strong national institutions such as the army and police, which safeguard peace and development.
President Museveni highlighted major infrastructure projects implemented under the NRM government to open the Sebei and Bugisu sub-regions for trade and investment. He cited road projects connecting Mbale, Kapchorwa, and Bukwo, noting that construction began even with limited resources in the early years.
“We pushed from Mbale to Kapchorwa even when we had no money. I used compensation money from Kenya to construct the Kapchorwa–Mbale road. Later, we constructed Kapchorwa–Suam road,” he said.
In the past six years, several road projects have been funded by the Government of Uganda and development partners, including the African Development Bank. Notable projects include the Kapchorwa–Suam Road, Mbale–Bubulo–Lwakhakha Road, Kapenguria–Kwoti Road, Nakalama–Tirinyi–Mbale, Namusni–Sironko/Muyembe–Kapchorwa, and the Tororo–Mbale–Soroti roads.
Ongoing projects include the Muyembe–Nakapiripirit Road and the Namagumba–Budadiri–Nalugugu Road, while others are under procurement. Each district now receives Shs 1 billion annually for community road maintenance to improve rural accessibility and local economic activity.
In the water sector, Bukwo District has expanded access to safe water. Out of 784 rural villages, 354 currently have access to a safe water source, representing 45.2 percent coverage, with plans to exceed 50 percent by the end of 2025/26. Several functional systems serve tens of thousands of residents, including Bukwo Town Council Piped Water System, Suam Piped Water System, and other community systems. Ongoing projects aim to extend and rehabilitate water systems across the district.
Responding to concerns about corruption in water projects, President Museveni urged citizens to monitor public funds through the Local Council system. “The anti-corruption formula is the LC system because they are elected by you. Follow the money from the central government to the district,” he said.
In education, Bukwo District currently has 49 government and 44 private primary schools, along with 10 government and 9 private secondary schools. The government plans to ensure every parish has a primary school and every sub-county a secondary school. Ongoing construction of three Seed Secondary Schools will reduce the number of sub-counties without government secondary schools from 11 to 8.
The Sebei Zonal Presidential Industrial Skilling Hub in Kween District has trained over 1,149 youths in trades such as carpentry, tailoring, welding, and bakery. President Museveni reiterated his commitment to free education, urging administrators to stop imposing charges that keep children out of school.
In the health sector, Bukwo has one Health Centre IV and 12 Health Centre IIIs, leaving 8 sub-counties without facilities. The President announced upgrades and new constructions, including upgrading Bukwo HCIV to a General Hospital and adding several HCIIIs across sub-counties.
President Museveni emphasized the distinction between development and wealth, noting that while government provides infrastructure, personal prosperity depends on enterprise.
“Yes, there is peace and development, but you must add wealth. Development is ours, but wealth is yours,” he said. He praised residents who adopted the government’s 4-acre model of mixed commercial farming and encouraged productive use of funds received under the Parish Development Model, which has disbursed Shs 33.4 billion to 35,227 beneficiary households in Bukwo.
He cited examples of individuals who created jobs through entrepreneurship, including Minister of State for Transport Fred Byamukama, who now employs 26 people using income from diversified farming. President Museveni also highlighted the Sino Industrial Park in Mbale as a symbol of Uganda’s transition from an importing to a manufacturing economy.
Bukwo NRM District Chairperson Abubaker Nyandani pledged continued strong support for the ruling party, citing government achievements in peace, infrastructure, and social programs. Nyandani requested the reinstatement of Bukwo District Hospital, creation of a new district named Too, construction of inter-boda markets, and compensation for families affected by cattle rustling and recent landslides.
The rally was also attended by Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Anita Among, who thanked the President for supporting landslide victims and reaffirmed the region’s loyalty to the NRM.
According to electoral statistics, Bukwo District had 44,126 registered voters in 2021, with Museveni receiving 87.4 percent of the vote. As of 2025, registered voters have increased to 56,636 across 163 polling stations, reflecting demographic growth and mobilization. Local NRM officials expressed confidence that the party’s performance will improve further due to visible progress in peace, education, roads, and agricultural financing.
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