Africa-Press – Uganda. President Yoweri Museveni has told residents of Masaka that they are missing out on development opportunities by consistently voting for opposition leaders.
Speaking during a rally at Masaka Liberation Grounds on Monday, Museveni said that although Masaka City and the surrounding district have registered notable progress under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government over the past four decades, the area would have achieved far more if voters had elected NRM leaders.
“You would have got more if you voted for leaders who know what to do. However, you vote for the opposition, which doesn’t know what to do,” Museveni said.
“I was in the Democratic Party between 1960 and 1970, but I realised it had nowhere to go. That is why I left and later worked with people from UPC and Kabaka Yekka to form what became the NRM. Those parties focused on tribes and religion. The people you are voting for are those we left behind.”
The President cited the example of Brother Augustine Mugabo, the head teacher of St. Henry’s College Kitovu, whom he said directly reached out to him for support.
“Brother Mugabo contacted me, and we supported the school. It benefited from modern facilities even without an MP lobbying for it,” Museveni said.
“There are big things I know, such as the need to work on the Kampala–Masaka road. But the small issues, I cannot know unless someone reports them. Ask yourselves: what role do the opposition MPs you vote for play?”
Museveni urged residents to “redeem themselves” by electing NRM leaders who can effectively communicate local challenges to government for action.
Masaka City and Masaka District are currently represented in Parliament exclusively by opposition legislators.
In Masaka City, the MPs are Juliet Nakabuye (Woman MP), Mathias Mpuuga (Nyendo–Mukungwe Division), and Dr Abed Bwanika (Kimanya–Kabonera Division).
For Masaka District, the MPs are Joan Namutaawe, Richard Ssebamala, and Evans Kanyike — all from the opposition.
Development
Museveni said that after restoring peace, the NRM government embarked on a development path that has benefited Masaka over the years.
“Those who are old enough know the condition of the Katonga–Kabale road when we came in 1985. Since then, we have worked on it several times,” he said.
“We have also worked on the Mutukula–Kyotera–Masaka road, and we are going to work on it again.”
He also mentioned the Mpigi–Kanoni–Ssembabule–Villa Maria–Nyendo road, noting that although the Nyendo–Villa Maria section has deteriorated, government plans are underway to rehabilitate it.
The President further encouraged residents to actively participate in wealth creation programs, particularly the Parish Development Model (PDM).
“We are going to increase funding for PDM from Shs100 million to Shs300 million per parish,” Museveni said.
“There will also be separate funds for fishermen, ghetto youth, mechanics, and other groups. Nobody should remain poor when the money and guidance are available.”
Earlier, Speaker of Parliament Anita Among expressed concern over what she described as weak parliamentary representation, which she said has contributed to delays in key development projects despite government investments.
Among noted that although President Museveni championed the creation of Masaka City, both the city and district lack NRM-leaning MPs who can effectively articulate local priorities in Parliament.
“Even after the creation of Masaka City, we as NRM have remained orphans at both city and district levels,” Among said.
“We do not have MPs who consistently follow up on our issues, which is why some projects have delayed.”
She cited the Masaka–Kyotera–Mutukula road as an example, saying it stalled partly due to the absence of sustained political follow-up.
Among, however, commended the President for supporting coffee farmers through the establishment of 10 coffee processing factories in the region.
“We appreciate the factories, but farmers now need more coffee seedlings and fertilisers to increase production,” she said.
She also praised government investment under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) programme, which has transformed Masaka City through improved roads and street lighting.
“We thank you for USMID, which has made Masaka City a better place. However, it is unfortunate that some opposition leaders are claiming credit for these projects,” Among added.
Local Concerns
Masaka District NRM Chairman Herman Muwulya commended government for constructing the Nyendo–Bukakata road, saying it has significantly reduced travel time between Bukakata and Masaka City.
However, he noted that it remains the only tarmac road in the district.
“We appreciate the Nyendo–Bukakata road, but it is the only tarmac road we have,” Muwulya said.
“We request that the Kirumba–Ddimo and Bukunda–Mulema roads also be upgraded to improve connectivity and service delivery.”
Muwulya also raised concerns about education infrastructure, noting that the district has only one seed secondary school. He appealed for the establishment of more seed schools to expand access to secondary education, especially in rural areas.
In addition, he acknowledged the Shs1 billion road fund allocated to the district but appealed for an increase to meet growing maintenance and construction demands.
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