President Museveni Pledges Electricity Connection for Bweyale, Vows Swift Action on Local Concerns
While addressing residents during his campaign rally on Wednesday, the President directed Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja to urgently oversee the “stepping down” of electricity so that households, businesses and institutions in Bweyale can start accessing power.
Kiryandongo District – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has pledged to ensure that Bweyale Town is finally connected to the national electricity grid, calling it unacceptable for the rapidly growing urban centre to remain in the dark despite a high-voltage transmission line running through the district.
While addressing residents during his campaign rally on Wednesday, the President directed Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja to urgently oversee the “stepping down” of electricity so that households, businesses and institutions in Bweyale can start accessing power.
Bweyale’s Transformation Linked to Post-Conflict Resettlement
Reflecting on its humble beginnings, Museveni recalled that Bweyale was once a sparsely populated area with only three shops and thick bushes. Its dramatic growth, he said, is linked to the resettlement of families displaced by insurgencies in northern Uganda.
“I encouraged our people who had fled the war to come here and start a new life, which is why you now see the development in Bweyale,” he said, pointing to the town’s evolution into a major trading and transit hub.
Unpacking the NRM Manifesto: Peace as the Foundation
The President noted that his visit was part of a broader effort to unpack the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Manifesto and explain the party’s achievements over the years. He emphasized peace as the cornerstone of Uganda’s stability, attributing it to strong institutions like the army and police built on non-sectarian principles.
“Our first contribution is peace. This was achieved because we built strong institutions—such as the army and the police—without practising sectarianism,” he said.
Museveni assured district leaders that issues captured in their memorandum of understanding would be acted upon. Among these is the upgrading of the existing O’Level school to include an A’Level section, addressing a long-standing education gap in the area.
Accountability in the Parish Development Model
On the Parish Development Model (PDM), Museveni reiterated his intolerance for corruption or mismanagement of the programme. He promised that the Minister of Local Government would follow up on all complaints raised by beneficiaries.
“Each beneficiary is supposed to receive one million shillings without deductions. Anyone who diverts this money will face the law,” he warned.
Pushing for Wealth Creation Through Multiple Sectors
The President encouraged residents to embrace wealth creation through a mix of enterprises including commercial agriculture, service delivery, tourism, hospitality, and transport.
He once again championed the four-acre model, urging families with small landholdings to plant coffee, grow food crops, rear poultry and pigs, and venture into fish farming. For large-scale farmers, he recommended cash crops such as cotton, tea and sugarcane, alongside livestock rearing.
Museveni also pointed to industrial parks as key sources of employment, noting that Namanve Industrial Park currently employs 44,000 people, while the Mbale Industrial Park employs 12,000. For youth uninterested in agriculture, he advised them to acquire vocational skills through the presidential skilling hubs.
Leaders Call for Youth Support and Better Social Services
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja commended Museveni for the peace and infrastructure development that she said has transformed Bunyoro, particularly road networks that have improved trade and mobility.
Speaker of Parliament and NRM Second National Vice Chairperson Anita Annet Among used the rally to call for more affirmative action for youth groups in the district, including ghetto youth and boda boda riders.
She also raised concerns over persistent human-wildlife conflict due to the district’s proximity to Murchison Falls National Park, urging the President to intervene. In addition, she pushed for the establishment of a regional referral highway hospital to serve Kiryandongo and neighbouring districts.
Expanding Opportunities Amid Limited Government Jobs
As the campaign trail continues, Museveni reminded supporters that government jobs remain limited. However, he said the administration will continue expanding opportunities through agricultural commercialization, industrialization, and large-scale skilling programmes.
“We are creating more avenues through which our people can work and earn, even when government jobs are few,” he said.
