KAGADI.President Yoweri Museveni has commended religious leaders in Kagadi District for promoting unity and peaceful coexistence, warning that sectarianism based on religion, tribe or gender does not contribute to national development.
The President made the remarks today while addressing a campaign rally at Muhorro BCS playground , Kagadi District.
“I am happy to find religious leaders in Kagadi working together. Discriminating on the basis of religion or tribe does not add anything to development. The NRM line is to look for the good Samaritan and leave sectarianism,” President Museveni said as he presented the NRM Manifesto, outlining the seven contributions the movement has made to Uganda over the last 40 years.
He highlighted peace, development, wealth creation and job creation as some of the key contributions, noting that peace had collapsed in Uganda before the NRM came to power.
“Peace had failed, but the NRM organized the country by the way we think. We despise sectarian politics, despising women or dividing people,” he said.
On development, President Museveni pointed to visible progress in Kagadi District, including improved road networks, electricity, health facilities, schools, water supply and government poverty alleviation programmes such as the Parish Development Model.
He pledged continued investment in infrastructure and specifically committed to upgrading the Muhorro–Ndaiga road in the coming term.
The President placed strong emphasis on wealth creation, urging residents to move from subsistence to commercial production.
He advised those with small landholdings to practice intensive agriculture using the four-acre model, where farmers plant coffee on the first acre, fruits on the second, pasture on the third and food for the family on the fourth, alongside poultry, piggery for non-Muslims and fish farming near wetlands. He said those with large landholdings should engage in extensive agriculture such as tea growing, ranching, cotton, tobacco and sugarcane farming, citing Bugangaizi West MP Hon. Fred Byamukama as an example of a leader who transformed his household by adopting the four-acre model.
On job creation, President Museveni clarified that jobs do not come from government offices but from commercial agriculture, factories, services and ICT.
“Talent (omwoga) and skills create jobs. My own talent is cattle keeping,” he said, adding that skilling centres are vital for youth who are not interested in agriculture. He pledged to construct another skilling hub in the southern part of Bunyoro Sub-region, noting that the existing facility in Masindi is too far for many young people.
The Second National Vice Chairperson (Female) and Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, thanked President Museveni for the key projects in Bunyoro including the state-of-the-art Hoima Stadium, Bunyoro University, Kabalega International Airport and improved road network.
She raised concerns about absentee landlords and requested the government to fast-track compensation through the Uganda Land Fund so that affected residents can acquire land titles.
The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja assured the President of massive support in the coming elections, saying many of the challenges raised by the people of Kagadi would be addressed in the next term.
NRM Vice Chairperson for Western Region, Eng. Jonard Asiimwe, called on residents of Bunyoro to remain united and peaceful during the election period.
Kagadi District NRM Chairperson, Mr. Karungi Erukana Mpoza thanked the President for the steady development registered in the district, particularly the improved road network and expansion of electricity.
However, he raised concern over unstable and costly power supply, saying it affects households, traders and small industries, and appealed to the government to stabilize electricity and make it more affordable to support local economic growth.