An elderly woman who walked three kilometres to the Rubanda playground clutched a handwritten list of roads she hoped the President would acknowledge. “If he talks about Hamurwa and Mugyera, I will be satisfied,” she quietly told a neighbour as the crowd grew. By the end of the rally, she folded the list with a smile — every road had been mentioned, along with new commitments.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Monday addressed residents of Rubanda District, stressing the importance of continuity, stability and wealth creation. He argued that Uganda’s next phase of development requires stronger infrastructure and intensified efforts to raise household incomes.
Speaking as the NRM presidential flagbearer, Museveni said his 2026–2031 Manifesto is anchored on safeguarding peace and expanding economic opportunities. He reminded border communities like Rubanda and Kisoro that their proximity to insecure areas in eastern DR Congo makes stability even more essential.
“After defeating Kony and other groups that used to disturb our people, we secured this peace — and it must be protected,” he said.
Museveni placed significant emphasis on infrastructure, commending the completed Kabale–Kisoro Road and confirming that funding has been secured for the Katuna–Muko–Kamuganguzi Road. He assured residents that key routes — including the Kisoro–Nkuringo–Buguri–Buko Road, the Kabale–Bunyonyi–Kisoro–Mgahinga corridor, and the Hamurwa–Kerere–Kanungu–Kanyantorogo–Butogota–Buhoma/Ifasha–Ikumba stretch — will be upgraded.
“These strategic roads will support tourism, ease access to markets and raise household incomes,” he said.
The President also revisited a long-standing theme from his early political years, praising early dairy farmers in the cattle corridor who adopted modern practices in the 1960s.
“I’m happy those dairy farmers listened. They stopped moving around to escape foot-and-mouth disease — and today they are earning well,” he said.
He encouraged families with small land holdings to adopt intensive farming, warning that low-value crops limit income potential.
“With two acres, if you grow cotton or tobacco, you earn little. You must produce goods or services for sale — with calculation,” Museveni said.
He further outlined the NRM’s Four-Acre Model from the 1996 Manifesto: one acre for coffee yielding up to Shs15 million annually; another for fruits; a third for pasture to support dairy; and the fourth for food crops. He added that poultry, piggery and fish farming can be done in the backyard or on small plots, noting that a single acre can hold four fish ponds capable of generating up to Shs80 million a year.
On the Parish Development Model, the President emphasised discipline and accountability.
“This PDM is your bank, not a handout,” he said.
He urged beneficiaries to invest and repay the funds within two years so that more households can access support.
Museveni later handed NRM flags to parliamentary aspirants, district leaders and other candidates in formal endorsement for the coming elections.
Henry Musasizi, Minister of State for Finance (General Duties) and MP for Rubanda East, thanked the President for extending services in health, education, water and electricity. He highlighted improved schools, upgraded health centres and expanded water systems but asked for stronger policing to curb village crime.
Former Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda welcomed Museveni to Kigezi and encouraged residents to maintain their support.
Rubanda’s development indicators featured prominently. The district now has 110 government primary schools, 81 private ones, nine government secondary schools and 29 private secondary schools. Two Seed Secondary Schools under construction are expected to reduce from ten to eight the sub-counties without government secondary schools.
Health improvements include upgrading Kiyebe, Kaara, Ihunga, Kagarama, Mugyera and Kashasha to HCIII. New HC IIIs are planned for Bubaare, Kacere and Katojo. The district also hosts a general hospital in Rubanda West and a functional HCIV in Rubanda East.
Water access remains uneven, with only 54% of the 476 villages having safe water sources. However, new piped systems and protected springs under construction are expected to boost coverage.
Rubanda is fully connected to the national electricity grid, with plans to extend power to the remaining ten sub-counties.
On economic empowerment, district figures show that 20,733 households out of 63,754 have benefited from the PDM. Rubanda has so far received Shs21.1 billion under the initiative, with more than 96% disbursed. The district also has 32 Emyooga SACCOs with 20,963 members who have received Shs1.76 billion collectively.
The rally attracted a large delegation of NRM leaders, MPs, religious leaders and thousands of supporters.
