KASESE, Uganda — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni launched his National Resistance Movement campaign trail in the Rwenzori Sub-region Thursday, starting in Kasese district with a major pledge to boost the area’s tourism potential.
Addressing a gathering at Nyakasanga Playground, Museveni announced that the government would construct a new international airport in Kasese after completing the Hoima airport, which was built to serve the oil sector. The president said the Kasese facility is intended to bolster tourism in the region.
Museveni spent much of his address highlighting the NRM’s four decades in power, citing peace, development, wealth creation and job creation as central to the country’s transformation.
He said Kasese is a prime example of peace because of its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, noting that Uganda currently hosts 700,000 refugees from the conflict-hit nation. Museveni emphasized that groups that attempted to destabilize the district have been defeated and that peace in Uganda “will remain like ripe bananas — you only see them but you cannot touch or eat them.”
On infrastructure, the president listed several completed road projects, including the Fort Portal–Kasese road, the Katunguru–Ishaka road and the Kikorongo–Bwera road, which he said would soon be rehabilitated. He also said the Mityana–Kyegegwa road is among the new projects planned. Museveni acknowledged the inadequate 1 billion shillings annual road fund allocation for Kasese and Ntungamo districts and promised to provide more road machinery.
Regarding other services, the president reaffirmed the government’s vision to connect every sub-county to the national electricity grid and noted that Kasese would receive a new standard gauge railway as part of the line being repaired from Malaba.
Museveni also touched on social services, noting that Kasese has 260 government primary schools and 25 government secondary schools offering universal education programs.
He reminded the population that development must be complemented by household prosperity, urging residents to embrace the four-acre model by planting coffee, fruits, food crops, and engaging in livestock and fish farming. He also vowed to investigate and arrest individuals reported to be stealing Parish Development Model funds.
Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among thanked the president for maintaining peace and asked the government to upgrade Kasese Airfield into an international airport. Kasese District NRM Chairperson Mbahimba James praised the president for restoring peace and spurring development, mentioning schools, hospitals, and wealth creation programs.
