Museveni Attributes Uganda’s Refugee Hospitality to Peace and Stability

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential flag bearer for the 2026 general elections, has described Uganda as a haven for refugees, attributing the country’s hospitality to sustained peace and stability.

Speaking at his second campaign rally of the day at Mirembe Muslim Primary School in Kitanda Sub-county, Bukomansimbi District, President Museveni said Uganda continues to host about two million refugees because of its enduring peace.

“Some of our neighbouring countries are still at war, and Uganda is hosting about two million refugees. Peace must be protected,” the President said.

He praised residents of Bukomansimbi for turning up in large numbers despite heavy rains, describing them as disciplined and resilient people who value peace.

“Generations here have grown up without hearing gunshots or running from war. Even before the coming of Europeans, there were wars among kingdoms, so we should never take peace for granted,” he added.

President Museveni commended local farmers for embracing coffee growing and pledged government support through micro-irrigation projects to boost production in the dry area.

On infrastructure, he highlighted ongoing and planned road works, noting that the Mpigi–Kanoni–Madu–Sembabule–Bukomansimbi–Masaka road had been a major breakthrough for the district. He further pledged that the Sembabule–Matete–Mbirizi and Matete–Kibinge–Kyabakuza roads would be upgraded to improve access and trade.

The President also encouraged residents to focus on wealth creation through modern farming practices. He cited Dr Florence Muranga of Bushenyi, who harvests 53 tonnes of bananas per acre using irrigation, compared to the district average of five tonnes.

He reminded citizens that while government development is important, escaping poverty ultimately depends on individual initiative.

“I bought land at my Kisozi farm in 1990 when there were no roads or electricity. By the time development came, I was already wealthy,” he said.

On utilities, President Museveni said electricity coverage has expanded to most parts of the district and pledged to extend power to all sub-counties and villages. He added that access to clean water has improved, with more than 80 percent of residents now covered.

During the rally, the President handed over NRM flags to aspiring Members of Parliament, LC V chairpersons, councillors and other party candidates in Bukomansimbi District, officially endorsing them for the upcoming elections.

On her behalf, the Speaker of Parliament and NRM Second National Vice Chairperson (Female), Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, thanked residents for the warm reception accorded to President Museveni, describing it as a clear demonstration of support for the NRM.

Rt. Hon. Among noted that coffee farming is the backbone of the local economy but observed that the area is largely dry, affecting productivity. She said farmers are eager to improve their livelihoods but require micro-irrigation support to overcome unreliable rainfall.

The Bukomansimbi District NRM Chairperson and National Chairperson of the NRM League for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), Mr Shafik Mwanje, welcomed the President on behalf of district leaders and residents, describing Bukomansimbi as a peaceful district whose farmers are increasingly benefiting from coffee growing.

However, Mr Mwanje noted that poor road infrastructure continues to limit the district’s full potential. He appealed for the upgrading of the Kagologolo–Bulenge–Kigangazi–Lukaya road and the Kyabakuza–Buyoga–Matete road to ease access to markets.

Health services also featured prominently in his remarks. Mr Mwanje called for the upgrading of Bukomansimbi Health Centre IV into a district hospital, noting that it serves patients from neighbouring districts and is under constant strain.

He said one of the district’s major achievements has been growing unity among residents and urged them to vote for President Museveni and NRM candidates to sustain peace and development.

According to the 2024 National Population Census, Bukomansimbi District has a population of 197,568, spread across nine sub-counties and town councils, 39 parishes and 254 villages.

Under the Parish Development Model (PDM), the district has 39 Parish SACCOs and has received Shs 13.96 billion, of which Shs 12.01 billion (86.2 percent) has been disbursed to 12,056 households. About 29 percent of the district’s 41,689 households have so far benefited.

Through the Emyooga programme, Bukomansimbi has 36 SACCOs with 8,967 members, supported by Shs 1.58 billion in government funding.

In education, the district has 73 government and 99 private primary schools, as well as seven government and 16 private secondary schools. All government secondary schools offer Universal Secondary Education (USE) and Universal Post O-Level Education and Training, with a total enrolment of 4,635 learners. However, 17 parishes still lack a government primary school, while four sub-counties do not have a government secondary school.

Health infrastructure remains uneven. Of the nine sub-counties, only one has a Health Centre IV and three have Health Centre IIIs, leaving five sub-counties and town councils without a Health Centre III, IV or hospital. Planned government interventions include upgrading Bigasa HCIII to HCIV, Kigangazi HCII to HCIII, and constructing new Health Centre IIIs in Bukomansimbi and Kagologolo town councils, as well as Butenga and Bukango.

Ongoing projects include the construction of a theatre, surgical ward and maternity unit at Butenga HCIV, and an outpatient department block at Bigasa HCIII.

In the water sector, 89.4 percent of rural villages now have access to safe water. Several piped water systems, production wells and valley tanks have been constructed, including the Lutugunda Valley Tank in Kigangazi to support livestock and dry-season resilience.

The government has also implemented irrigation interventions such as the Makoomi solar-powered irrigation scheme and plans to construct the Mijumwa earth dam, with a storage capacity of 2.8 million cubic metres, to support multi-purpose water use.

On electricity, Bukomansimbi is connected to the national grid, with six of the nine sub-counties already electrified. Plans are underway to extend power to Bukango, Butenga and Kagologolo Town Council in the next term.

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