KYEGEGWA, Uganda — National Unity Platform presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi promised Thursday to prioritize the rehabilitation of feeder roads in the Toro subregion, arguing that mass corruption prevents the government from funding essential infrastructure.
Speaking to residents in Kyegegwa town council, Kyagulanyi claimed that corruption is responsible for an annual loss of $2.7 billion (10 trillion shillings) to the country, money he said could easily fix the region’s infrastructure.
“That money alone can pave the entire road network of Toro in three years,” Kyagulanyi said. He asserted that the nation’s problems do not require a professor to solve, but rather “someone who genuinely cares for the people.”
He specifically addressed the struggles of local farmers, who he said cannot transport their produce or negotiate fair prices because of the poor state of the roads.
“I heard you used to sell your tea at very low prices,” Kyagulanyi told supporters. “I want you to know that the price of your agricultural products will increase if you trust us with your vote.”
Campaign Trail Tensions
The candidate’s promises followed a tense security incident Wednesday in Fort Portal, where police and military personnel diverted his convoy from main roads and used force to break up gatherings of supporters.
Kyagulanyi said the stand-off prevented him from campaigning in Fort Portal. He told the crowd that 70 of his supporters were arrested during the clash, and two others remained in critical condition after being shot.
Later, addressing a second rally at Katoosa Primary School playground in Kyenjojo, Kyagulanyi acknowledged the strain of the campaign, which has been marked by confrontations with security forces.
“I am human. Sometimes I want to quit, but when I see the numbers that follow me, I gain strength,” he said. “You were brutalized and tear-gassed, but that has not stopped you from coming in big numbers.”
Kyagulanyi, who was joined by his wife, Barbra Itungo, and other senior party officials, pledged to “plant the seed of freedom everywhere.”
Health Care Concerns
While roads were a key focus, voter Patrick Kato, a resident of Kyenjojo, said the next president must urgently address deficiencies in the health sector.
Kato acknowledged that the government has constructed several facilities, including Kyenjojo General Hospital, but argued they are poorly equipped and staffed.
“Many times, they tell you to go and buy medicines elsewhere,” Kato said. “The health workers are in the hospitals, but their souls are elsewhere.” He called for stronger supervision and better salaries for health workers.
