Africa-Press – Uganda. The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, has asked residents of Entebbe Municipality to blame the deadly Kiteezi landfill collapse on the opposition, insisting that the tragedy was not the fault of government.
At least 30 people were killed and several others injured in August 2024 when tonnes of garbage collapsed and buried homes in Lusanja, Kitetika and Kiteezi villages.
Speaking at President Museveni’s campaign rally at Works Playground in Entebbe on Monday, Among claimed that Parliament had earlier considered proposals to relocate residents from the area but that opposition legislators frustrated the process.
“A report was brought to Parliament to transfer those people but your opposition people refused the transfer of those people and that’s why we lost the 36 people in Kiteezi,” Ms Among said.
She urged residents to vote for candidates from the ruling National Resistance Movement, arguing that leaders aligned to the party would work better with President Museveni to address such challenges.
“If you had a mayor who is NRM, they would have brought that issue on board,” she said.
Ms Among added, “We want to request you to give the President the rightfully people to work with for the good of this country.”
President Museveni who was accompanied by the First Lady Janet used the rally to present the NRM 2026-2031 manifesto, highlighting achievements of his government and outlining future plans.
He pledged increased support to fishermen, market vendors and small scale entrepreneurs, and called on residents to vote for the NRM to safeguard peace and development.
The President said his government had restored security in Entebbe by dismantling criminal roadblocks that were being used to rob residents.
“We saved you, the people of Entebbe, from the roadblocks that were being used to rob you,” Mr Museveni said, adding that security was the foundation for economic activity.
He encouraged residents to make productive use of small pieces of land through activities such as poultry keeping, piggery, horticulture and vegetable growing.
“Even if you have small land, you can still engage in poultry and piggery, and others can grow greens and vegetables,” he said.
Mr Museveni also emphasised the role of artisanship in job creation, citing trades such as tailoring, weaving and carpentry. He said artisan groups that were relocated from Nsambya to Kigo would receive government support.
“All your groups engaged in artisanship are going to be supported by the government,” he said, noting that it was once “a shame” that Uganda bought furniture from outside Entebbe despite having skilled local craftsmen.
Addressing concerns from fishing communities, the President acknowledged that funds provided under the Parish Development Model were inadequate.
“When I went to Lake Albert, I was told fishermen need more money than the Shs1 million given under PDM,” he said.
He pledged increased funding for regional fishing groups in Entebbe, Masaka and Mukono and urged beneficiaries to follow up on the pledge. “Ensure you push for that money until you get it,” he said.
Mr Museveni also promised financial support for market vendors through government market funds and microfinance institutions, saying the money would help residents start and grow businesses.
He added that Entebbe stood to gain more from tourism if its beaches were properly maintained and developed, and proposed the establishment of a processing factory to take advantage of the area’s proximity to Lake Victoria.
The First Lady, Ms Janet Museveni, urged Ugandans to reflect on the country’s journey over the past four decades and to protect the peace and stability that have been achieved.
“Gathering together in these rallies reminds us of where we have come from and what God has done for Uganda in the past 40 years,” she said.
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