Museveni Announces New UPDF Battalion, Industrial Park for Kamwenge

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has announced that Kamwenge District will host a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) battalion and barracks as the government seeks to consolidate peace in an area that for years suffered insecurity linked to Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel activity.

Museveni, who is also the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential flag bearer, announced while addressing thousands of supporters at a campaign rally held at Kyabenda Primary School playground in Kamwenge District. He was accompanied by the First Daughter, Mrs. Natasha Karugire Museveni.

“For a long time, Kamwenge faced insecurity because of ADF incursions through the forests. But because of unity and a strong army, we have managed to maintain peace,” President Museveni said. “Whenever the ADF attempted to enter this area, we chased them away. To consolidate this peace, we are going to establish a battalion here and secure land for a barracks.”

The President thanked residents for their massive turnout and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting lives and property.

He noted that after restoring peace, the government shifted focus to development but encountered persistent household poverty, prompting renewed efforts toward wealth creation. Museveni praised farmers who embraced commercial agriculture and moved from small-scale maize growing to coffee, fruits, and bananas.

“This is the Ekibaaro I have been preaching—small land, commercial farming. Those who listened are now in the money economy. You should continue,” he said.

As part of industrialisation efforts, Museveni announced plans to acquire land for an industrial park in the district and a presidential slaughter hub to support livestock farmers. He also pledged the establishment of SACCOs and seed nurseries per constituency and district.

On infrastructure, the President said major roads in the region were being prioritised, citing works from Lyantonde through Ibanda to Kamwenge and Fort Portal, and plans to rehabilitate the Kyenjojo–Kihura and Rwimi roads.

Museveni emphasised that irrigation was the country’s next major priority, noting the need to protect wetlands while scaling up water access for agriculture.

The President singled out Mr. Julius Akorinako, a retired District Inspector of Schools, as an exemplary wealth creator who transformed his livelihood by adopting commercial coffee farming. Akorinako now earns an estimated Shs40 million annually from six acres of clonal coffee.

On education, Museveni acknowledged challenges in implementing free education, attributing some gaps to non-compliance among school administrators. He said presidential skilling hubs were established to equip young people with practical skills.

One beneficiary, Ms. Racheal Natukunda from Kyenjojo District, narrated how she overcame school fees challenges, trained in hairdressing and cosmetology, and later opened her own salon using a Shs500,000 microfinance loan. She now employs another worker and has diversified into poultry farming.

Reflecting on her journey, Museveni said, “Natukunda was once hopeless. Today she is skilled, she employs others, and she owns poultry. That is exactly what we want for our young people.”

The President reaffirmed that the government would continue prioritising peace, infrastructure, skilling, and household wealth creation to ensure inclusive development across the country. He also handed over NRM flags to aspiring Members of Parliament, LC V chairpersons, councillors, and other party candidates in Kamwenge, endorsing their participation in the upcoming elections.

Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, the NRM Chairperson for Kamwenge District and Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, attributed the district’s progress to security, unity, and deliberate government interventions.

“We thank the NRM government for giving us Kamwenge District and for defeating the ADF threat in this region,” Tumwebaze said. He praised Museveni for resisting calls to fragment the district, saying unity had accelerated development.

Tumwebaze highlighted significant improvements in household livelihoods, noting that more than half of Kamwenge’s homesteads had transitioned from maize to coffee farming, thanks to government guidance and the Four-Acre Model initiative. Kamwenge currently has 18 sub-counties and town councils, 74 parishes, and 442 villages, with a population of 337,167 according to the 2024 census.

He also cited strong political participation, recalling that 78 percent of registered voters turned out during the 2021 presidential elections.

On wealth creation, Tumwebaze said Kamwenge had received over Shs19 billion under the Parish Development Model (PDM), with nearly 98 percent disbursed to 18,625 households. He noted that the Emyooga programme had boosted household enterprises through 36 SACCOs with over 15,500 members supported by nearly Shs2 billion in government funding.

He commended First Lady and Education Minister, Maama Janet Museveni, for expanding access to education through seed schools. Five new seed secondary schools are under construction, with the goal of ensuring that each parish has a government primary school.

While health infrastructure has improved, Tumwebaze noted gaps in sub-counties without functional facilities. Leaders requested the upgrade of Kamwenge Health Centre III to a Health Centre IV, deployment of additional health workers, and the establishment of an industrial park to support agro-processing, including coffee processing.

Water coverage has improved to 66 percent of rural villages, with numerous piped water systems completed. Electrification efforts are ongoing, with plans to connect the remaining sub-counties to the national grid.

Tumwebaze concluded by reaffirming Kamwenge’s loyalty to President Museveni and the NRM, pledging continued mobilisation to support government programmes aimed at transforming lives.

The event was attended by NRM Central Executive Committee members, Members of Parliament, religious and cultural leaders, and thousands of supporters.