HOIMA: PRESIDENT MUSEVENI EMPHASIZES PEACE, DEVELOPMENT AND WEALTH CREATION AS CORNERSTONE OF UGANDA’S TRANSFORMATION

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni today received a warm welcome at
Booma Grounds in Hoima City, where he addressed a massive
campaign rally in the company of the First Daughter, Mrs. Natasha
Museveni Karugire and senior National Resistance Movement (NRM)
leaders.

The President presented the NRM Manifesto to residents of Hoima
District and city, outlining the seven key contributions the movement has
made to Uganda over the last 40 years.

He emphasized peace, development, wealth creation and job creation
as the foundations of Uganda’s transformation.

“Thank you for coming in big numbers. I am here with other NRM
leaders to present to you the contributions the NRM has put on Uganda
for the last 40 years. The first contribution is peace—and that one we
don’t need to explain,” he said.

The President explained that development has two components:
economic infrastructure and social infrastructure. He cited the improved
road network in Hoima and the wider Bunyoro region, the expansion of
telecommunication services, and the electrification programme which
has already connected 12 out of the 14 Sub-counties/Town Councils in

Hoima District, with the remaining two—Kiganja and Kijongo—set for
connection in the next term.
President Museveni highlighted the government investments in social
services, pointing out the growth of education and health facilities in the
region.

Hoima District now has 64 government primary schools and 6
government secondary schools, while Hoima City has 33 government
primary schools and 5 government secondary schools. All these
government secondary schools offer Universal Secondary Education
and Universal Post-O-Level Education and Training. Four Seed
Secondary Schools are under construction and will reduce the number
of Sub-counties without a government secondary school from 8 to 4.

In the health sector, Hoima District has 1 HCIV, 9 HCIIIs and 9 HCIIs,
with several upgrades ongoing or planned, including elevating Kigorobya
HCIV to a General Hospital and constructing new HCIIIs in underserved
Sub-counties. Hoima City benefits from Hoima Regional Referral
Hospital, which has a functional CT scan, a new X-ray machine under
shipment, 4 radiologists, a functional ICU with 6 beds and a 15m³
oxygen plant.

The President stressed that development must be accompanied by
wealth creation at household level.

“Development is good, but it’s not enough without wealth creation. We
have been advising you to stop working only for the stomach but also
work for the pocket,” he said.

He again advised small landholders to adopt the four-acre model and
large landowners to invest in tea, ranching and cotton.

On oil, the President urged responsible management of Uganda’s new
resource.

“In Uganda now we have new wealth—oil. We have confirmed 6.5 billion
barrels of crude oil in the Albertine region, and we are still exploring. But
some people want us to misuse this money. Oil will only last about 20
years, so we must invest it in long-term projects,” he said.

President Museveni further assured Bunyoro residents that, in addition
to Kabalega Industrial Park for petroleum products, the government will
construct a separate industrial park for agro-processing since food and
petroleum industries cannot operate in the same location.

The President also noted that job creation will come from commercial
agriculture, factories, services and ICT and encouraged youth in Hoima
to take advantage of the skilling centres to acquire employable skills.
Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, the NRM Second National Vice
Chairperson (Female) and Speaker of Parliament, applauded President
Museveni for projects such as Hoima Stadium, Bunyoro University and
improved road network, saying the President was not in Bunyoro to
campaign but to celebrate NRM’s achievements.

Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja thanked the President for
championing the emancipation of women, giving her own rise as the first
female Prime Minister from the Bunyoro Sub-region as evidence of the
opportunities created under the NRM.

NRM Vice Chairperson- Western Uganda, Hon. Asiimwe Jonard thanked
mobilisers for working hard to secure overwhelming support for the
President and reaffirmed the region’s strong backing for the NRM.

The NRM Chairperson of Hoima District, Mr. Vincent Muhumuza
Savannah, thanked the President for major developments in Hoima
including Hoima International Airport and the Regional Blood Bank but
raised concerns about widespread land evictions. He appealed to the
President to intervene and ensure residents receive affordable and
secure land titles.