By Akampa Rugaba Tanbull
Your Excellency, welcome to Kigezi Sub-region, a region of gentle, hospitable, educated, and hardworking people who cut across the six districts of Kabale, Rukungiri, Kisoro, Kanungu, Rubanda and finally Rukiga.
As I write this, it is now crystal clear that in the more than 50 districts where the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Presidential Candidate and National Chairman, H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has held rallies, he will massively win. More Ugandans are civically waking up from slumber and appreciating the NRM’s campaign manifesto and the theme of #ProtectingTheGains as we make a qualitative leap into high middle-income status.
Kigezi, like all other regions, has more reasons to continue #ProtectingTheGains with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa at the helm. On education, every sub-county is getting or has already obtained a government secondary seed school. Furthermore, Kigezi region has a Presidential Skilling Hub or centre that equips the youth with hands-on skills that will eventually spur job creation and employment, especially for the youth bulge.
Still on education, over 90% of parishes across Kigezi region have government-aided primary schools, apart from a few where leaders have been in slumberland.
On infrastructure development, it is now all tarmac roads from Ntungamo to Kabale to Rubanda to Kisoro, as well as Ntungamo to Rukungiri to Kanungu. Yes, a few other tourism connection roads have to be worked on.
On health, Health Centre IIs across the region are all being upgraded to Health Centre IIIs. In most sub-counties, some Health Centre IIIs have been upgraded to Health Centre IVs. The region boasts of Kabale Regional Referral Hospital but equally works hand in hand with private and church-owned hospitals like Rugarama Hospital, Kisizi, Nyakibale, among others—all aimed at improving universal health care coverage, one of the declarations Uganda committed to.
On peace and security, Kigezi as a region is now relatively more secure, boosting trade, especially across the borders with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Security is now the top notch in this region. It is actually the bargaining chip.
Only a few petty crimes threaten people’s property and gains in villages. Village thieves and poverty levels must be addressed because they threaten village gains, stability, and peace.
In wealth creation, the Parish Development Model (PDM) has energised the local and grassroots economy across the different districts that have clear-headed leaders. Even when some parishes have misused or swindled money, the majority who have benefited appreciate and are grateful to the National Resistance Movement (NRM). They demand that more funds should be allocated.
More gains by Kigezi region will be highlighted in subsequent writings. For Kigezi as a region, the NRM Government with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the helm will settle the issues of presidential pledges, more roads, more upgrades in health centres, bridging worker gaps and drug stock-outs, improving classrooms for teachers, extending piped clean water and electricity to our people, and increasing the Parish Development Model (PDM) funds.
In the next term of office, the NRM Government must address corruption in local government.
Kigezi region will massively vote NRM, and President Museveni’s percentage will increase across the region. However, we must address voter apathy.
Once again, my President, welcome to Kigezi region.
The writer is ONC Coordinator, Kigezi Sub-region
Email: [email protected]
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