Nakaseke, Uganda: President Museveni has assured residents of Nakaseke District living in forest reserve areas that the government will not evict them, but will instead formalise their stay through long-term lease arrangements aimed at balancing wealth creation with environmental conservation.
Addressing a packed campaign rally at Nakaseke District headquarters in Butalangu on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, Mr Museveni said settlers occupying forest reserve land would be allowed to remain under leases of up to 49 years, provided they actively participate in tree planting and sustainable land use.
“We are going to arrange to enable you to enter an agreement with the government to give you a lease on that land for something like 49 years,” he said. “As you carry out your wealth creation activities, commercial farming, grazing animals, you will also preserve the land by planting trees.”
The President clarified that while some forest reserves were originally gazetted for tree planting, restoration could still be achieved through community-led agroforestry, particularly in degraded reserves.
“If it was a traditional forest like Budongo Forest, I would have chased you,” Museveni added, drawing laughter from the crowd, as he distinguished between protected natural forests and recoverable reserves.
The President was responding to fears earlier raised by Hon Anita Annet Among, the NRM Second National Vice Chairperson, who warned that residents in forest reserves such as Kanyogoga, Kamusenene, Wakyato, and parts of Ngoma Trading Centre faced possible eviction by the National Forestry Authority (NFA).
Ms Among told the rally that many of the settlements had evolved into established communities with schools, health centres, churches and mosques, making eviction socially disruptive.
Nakaseke hosts several central forest reserves, including Kapimpini and Kamusenene, which have come under sustained pressure from settlement, agriculture and grazing.
Campaign message from Luwero heartland
Using the rally to campaign for renewal of the NRM mandate, Museveni outlined what he described as the party’s seven major contributions to Uganda over the past four decades, placing peace and security at the top.
Museveni asserted that he was pleased to return to Bulemeezi, describing it as a historically diverse and significant region. “This is our traditional place with people from all walks of life, Baganda, Banyankore, Lugbara and others,” he said.
“Uganda was in wars for a long time, even before Europeans came, but it has been 40 years since the NRM kept Uganda peaceful,” he said.
He argued that sustained peace had laid the foundation for development, investment and wealth creation, including in previously war-ravaged districts like Nakaseke.
On infrastructure, Museveni recalled that the Kampala–Luwero–Gulu road was once the only major route serving the region. Since then, government has invested in roads such as Matugga–Semuto–Kapeeka, with plans to expand Kampala–Luwero–Butalangu up to Ngoma and Masindi.
He noted that Nakaseke, which previously had no electricity, now enjoys near-universal access, with plans to extend power to remaining pockets.
In education, the President said the district had grown from a handful of schools in 1986 to dozens of primary, secondary and technical institutions, including a teachers’ training college.
Wealth creation beyond subsistence
Museveni cautioned residents against relying solely on social services and subsistence farming, urging households to focus on income generation. “NRM has always told you that you must also work for the pocket, not only for eating,” he said.
He cited George Matongo of Ngoma, who earns about Shs21 million per month from commercial dairy farming, and Joseph Ijara, who combines poultry and dairy farming on 2.5 acres, earning about Shs6.8 million monthly.
“What you need is to use small land and earn more. On one acre, you can put eight dairy cows and get out of poverty,” Museveni said.
He also pointed to Karamoja, highlighting Korea Dick Ogira of Abim, who earned Shs12 million in one year from mango farming under OWC and PDM, despite limited infrastructure. “Development may not be there, but wealth is there.”
The President strongly dismissed claims that the government is the main source of jobs, saying employment is driven by wealth creation. “Government jobs are only 480,000 for 50 million people,” Museveni said, adding, “Jobs are in agriculture, manufacturing, services and ICT.”
He cited Johnson Basangwa of Jeka Poultry Farm in Kamuli, who employs about 300 workers, and industrial parks such as Sino-Mbale, Namanve, and Kapeeka, which together employ tens of thousands.
On her part, Janet Kataaha Museveni urged residents to protect NRM’s gains, saying, The rally should continue on January 15 by voting for Museveni and NRM flag bearers.”
NRM Deputy Secretary General Rose Namayanja hailed Bulemeezi’s transformation from a war zone into a commercial dairy hub, while Central Region Vice Chairperson Haruna Kasolo Kyeyune praised party unity.
Nakaseke NRM Chairperson Hajji Mohammed Ggubya highlighted post-war recovery, noting that the district now has 17 government secondary schools, over 114 government primary schools, and 256 private schools.
The rally was attended by Ministers, MPs, NRM Central Executive Committee members, party flag bearers and district leaders.
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