MBALE CITY: National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate, General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has flagged off 17,725 party structure leaders from LC1 to LC5 across the seven districts of the Bugisu sub-region and Mbale City.
The leaders have been dispatched to intensify grassroots mobilisation for NRM flag bearers ahead of the forthcoming General Elections, as Museveni continues his second day of campaigns in the Busoga sub-region.
Addressing the leaders at Mbale S.S, Museveni emphasized that NRM cadres are duty-bound to explain the party’s ideology and achievements to voters in their respective areas. He highlighted what he described as Uganda’s significant socioeconomic transformation under NRM leadership, citing a growth of the national economy from 3.9 billion dollars to 64 billion dollars.
Museveni outlined the progress of Uganda’s industrialisation agenda, saying it is boosting local production and creating employment opportunities. He listed several industrial parks, among them Namanve with 273 factories, Mbale with more than 75 factories, and others in Kapeeka, Mukono and Matugga which he said collectively provide more than 1.3 million direct jobs.
He added that similar job creation has taken place in the services sector, commercial agriculture, and ICT.
The NRM candidate also pointed to major infrastructure developments, particularly in power generation. He cited the 640-megawatt Karuma Hydropower Dam, the Isimba Dam, and other energy projects which he said form the backbone of Uganda’s production-driven economy.
In his remarks, Museveni criticised opposition presidential candidates, especially those who previously served in Parliament accusing them of failing to prioritise budgeting for essential development programmes. He mentioned NUP’s Robert Kyagulanyi, FDC’s Nandala Mafabi, ANT’s Mugisha Muntu and Mubarak Munyagwa, saying their past performance in Parliament signals what he called an inability to manage national affairs.
Museveni further cautioned Ugandans against what he described as “distortive opposition politicians” who he claimed promote foreign interests at the expense of Uganda’s development.
Museveni further reiterated the importance of prioritising local needs and assured leaders of more government projects in the pipeline. He maintained that Uganda is a wealthy nation and pledged that every household will be integrated into the money economy through empowerment programmes such as the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, the Youth Livelihood Programme, and the Women Empowerment Fund.
He stated that Uganda’s economy is growing at 7 percent annually and projected that growth will rise above 10 percent when oil production begins. Museveni also urged farmers in the region to embrace value addition particularly in the coffee sector warning them against selling unprocessed coffee.
