Museveni Highlights Peace, Development and Wealth Creation at Hoima Campaign Rally

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Thursday received a warm welcome at Booma Grounds in Hoima City, where he addressed a massive campaign rally accompanied by the First Daughter, Mrs Natasha Museveni Karugire, and senior National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders.

The President presented the NRM Manifesto to residents of Hoima District and Hoima City, outlining the seven key contributions the Movement has made to Uganda over the past 40 years. He emphasised peace, development, wealth creation, and job creation as the foundations of Uganda’s transformation.

“Thank you for coming in big numbers. I am here with other NRM leaders to present to you the contributions the NRM has made to Uganda for the last 40 years. The first contribution is peace, and that one we don’t need to explain,” he said.

President Museveni explained that development is built on two components: economic infrastructure and social infrastructure. He cited the improved road network in Hoima and the wider Bunyoro region, expanded telecommunication services, and ongoing electrification efforts. Currently, 12 out of 14 sub-counties/town councils in Hoima District are connected to electricity, with the remaining two, Kiganja and Kijongo, scheduled for connection in the next term.

The President also highlighted the government’s investments in social services, pointing to the growth of education and health facilities in the region. Hoima District now has 64 government primary schools and 6 government secondary schools, while Hoima City has 33 government primary schools and 5 government secondary schools. All government secondary schools offer Universal Secondary Education and Universal Post-O-Level Education and Training. Four Seed Secondary Schools under construction will reduce the number of sub-counties without a government secondary school from eight to four.

In the health sector, Hoima District has 1 HCIV, 9 HCIIIs and 9 HCIIs, with several upgrades underway or planned, including elevating Kigorobya HCIV to a General Hospital and constructing new HCIIIs in underserved sub-counties. Hoima City benefits from Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, which has a functional CT scan, a new X-ray machine on the way, four radiologists, a fully functional ICU with six beds, and a 15m³ oxygen plant.

The President stressed that national development must be matched with wealth creation at the household level.

“Development is good, but it’s not enough without wealth creation. We have been advising you to stop working only for the stomach but also work for the pocket,” he said, urging small landholders to adopt the four-acre model and encouraging larger landowners to invest in tea, ranching, and cotton.

In the oil sector, President Museveni called for responsible management of Uganda’s new resource.
“In Uganda, now we have new wealth, oil. We have confirmed 6.5 billion barrels of crude oil in the Albertine region, and we are still exploring. But some people want us to misuse this money. Oil will only last about 20 years, so we must invest it in long-term projects,” he warned.

He assured Bunyoro residents that, in addition to the Kabalega Industrial Park for petroleum products, the government will build a separate industrial park dedicated to agro-processing, noting that petroleum and food-processing facilities cannot operate in the same location.

The President further noted that job creation will come from commercial agriculture, factories, the services sector, and ICT. He encouraged the youth in Hoima to make use of skilling centres to acquire practical and employable skills.

Speaker of Parliament and NRM Second National Vice Chairperson (Female), Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among commended President Museveni for championing major projects in the region, including Hoima Stadium, Bunyoro University, and improved road networks. She said the President’s visit was not merely a campaign event but a celebration of the NRM’s achievements.

Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja thanked the President for championing women’s emancipation, citing her own rise as the first female Prime Minister from the Bunyoro Sub-region as evidence of the opportunities created under the NRM.

NRM Vice Chairperson for Western Uganda, Hon. Asiimwe Jonard, thanked party mobilisers for their hard work in securing overwhelming support for the President and reaffirmed the region’s strong backing for the NRM.

Hoima District NRM Chairperson, Mr Vincent Muhumuza Savannah, expressed gratitude to the President for major developments such as Hoima International Airport and the Regional Blood Bank. He, however, raised concerns about widespread land evictions in the region and appealed to the President to intervene and help residents obtain affordable and secure land titles.