Ntungamo, Uganda: NRM Presidential Candidate Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Thursday drew one of the largest campaign crowds yet as thousands of supporters flooded Kyamate Primary School grounds to welcome him and First Lady Maama Janet Museveni back to Ntungamo District.
Museveni told supporters that his peaceful return to a place he once traversed “with a gun” during the liberation struggles of 1979 and 1985 symbolised how far Uganda has travelled under NRM leadership.
“Here in Ntungamo, I passed twice with a gun. But now we have come in peace, and I must thank God for that. God has used NRM to bring peace to Uganda,” he said.
Infrastructure, Irrigation and Household Wealth Take Centre Stage
Museveni outlined peace, infrastructure development and prosperity as the pillars that have underpinned Uganda’s transformation under NRM. He assured residents that the worn-out road to Rukungiri will be renovated and stressed that irrigation remains Ntungamo’s biggest agricultural challenge.
“Irrigation enabled me to set up a very successful farm in Bushenyi. We harvest ten times more because of irrigation and fertilizers. Relying on God alone for rainfall is not a religious practice—we must embrace irrigation,” he said.
He promised government-supported irrigation schemes to boost productivity and strengthen household incomes.
Museveni also re-emphasised that prosperity must begin with the individual. “Poverty is yours as an individual just like wealth is yours,” he said, urging households to utilise Entandikwa, NAADS, OWC, Emyooga and PDM to build income-generating enterprises.
President Warns Against Corrupt Officials Blocking PDM Funds
Museveni criticised local officials who demand land titles before releasing Parish Development Model (PDM) money. “This is wrong. PDM rules do not require any form of security for access. As long as you have a viable project, you should receive support,” he said.
He condemned corruption in district job recruitment and encouraged the public to expose officials asking for bribes. Museveni further recalled the country’s difficult past, noting that the entire region once had only a few dispensaries between Mbarara and Kabale, unlike today’s expanded health infrastructure.
“For those with land, we recommend commercial farming. For those with smaller pieces, we advise the four-acre model, coffee, poultry, piggery, fish farming and zero grazing,” he added.
Janet Museveni Presents District Progress Report
Earlier, Maama Janet Museveni delivered a comprehensive overview of Ntungamo’s progress since it became a district in 1993. She outlined how Ntungamo had grown into one of Uganda’s largest districts, with an expanding population that has risen by nearly half over the past 25 years.
She attributed this growth to peace, improved health care, better nutrition and higher living standards. Over the last five years, she said, the district had received significant government funding, including substantial resources through PDM, Emyooga and various youth, women and disability programmes.
Maama Janet also highlighted ongoing improvements in education and health, noting the increasing number of schools, vocational institutions, health centres and safe water sources. She also pointed to road maintenance efforts and the steady expansion of water and irrigation infrastructure.
The First Lady outlined areas that require attention in the next term, including empowering youth and women to participate in government programmes, establishing health facilities in parishes that are not yet served, eliminating extra charges in UPE and USE schools, constructing a public secondary school in Nyabihoko Town Council, protecting wetlands such as Lake Nyabihoko, securing more funding for roads and increasing water for production to support PDM enterprises.
She also said the district must address acaricide-resistant ticks and strengthen agro-value addition and market access.
In her closing remarks, Janet thanked residents for the massive turnout, describing it as the beginning of a strong march toward the January 15, 2026, election. “For those who think the President has already won, please do not stay at home. Victory, especially a historic one, requires everyone to vote,” she said.
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