Pallisa, Uganda: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed Works and Transport Minister Gen. Katumba Wamala to immediately address the poor state of rural roads in Pallisa and neighbouring districts after expressing disappointment at their deteriorated condition.
While campaigning at Kameke Primary School playground, Museveni said he was shocked that despite the ministry having sufficient machinery at the Mbale regional works station, most rural access roads remain nearly impassable.
Museveni said the road he used to access the rally was only repaired because of his visit, a gesture he condemned as unfair to citizens who endure poor road conditions daily.
He noted that on top of the regional machines, each district received its own road equipment and gets Shs1.3 billion annually for road works, yet community access roads remain in bad shape.
“If the money is not enough, let the inadequacy be communicated so that government adds on instead of people suffering from poor roads,” Museveni said.
He emphasized his manifesto pillars of peace, development, wealth creation and job opportunities, advising Ugandans to focus on income-generating ventures rather than requesting basic infrastructure like roads, schools and health centres since these are already government obligations.
“When there is a tarmac road in your place, you don’t sleep on it. You will return home where your poverty is waiting for you,” Museveni said.
The President praised NRM district chairperson flag bearer Ben Okiria for being an eloquent translator and highlighted Pallisa’s progress, noting that 477 of 489 villages now have clean safe water, alongside 76 primary and 9 secondary schools. He also announced plans to elevate Obutet, Kaukura and Limoto Health Centre IIs to Health Centre IIIs.
On wealth creation, Museveni said government interventions such as Entandikwa, UWEP, Youth Livelihood Programme and Emyooga have been critical to poverty reduction. He pledged that in the 2026–2031 term, Emyooga funds would be increased and more support extended to religious and cultural institutions.
While in Bugisu recently, youth complained about being marginalised from Emyooga, prompting Museveni to direct that youth and women access their 30% share, while PWDs receive 10%, encouraging beneficiaries to form SACCOs.
Earlier, NRM Second National Vice Chairperson (Female) Anita Among asked the President to include Pallisa in the Teso restocking programme, noting that rustlers had attacked and killed people in the district. She rallied residents to vote overwhelmingly for Museveni on January 15, 2026, citing his stance on the anti-homosexuality law.
Responding to Pallisa leaders’ memorandum—delivered by district NRM chairperson Derrick Orone—Museveni said establishing an industrial hub in Kamuge requires larger acreage of land. The leaders also requested elevation of Pallisa General Hospital to regional referral status, creation of Agule District, and construction of a technical school in Apopong.
Museveni criticized the abuse of Universal Education through illegal fees, saying it was contributing to school dropouts. He said industrial hubs were created to skill disadvantaged youth whose prospects were being derailed by such practices. Many of these youths, he said, now manufacture products previously imported from China, India and Dubai.
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