Bundibugyo — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has pledged to establish a cocoa processing factory in Bundibugyo, saying the investment will transform Uganda’s top cocoa-producing district into a hub of agro-industrial growth and job creation.
Speaking during a campaign rally on Friday, 5th December 2025, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential flag bearer said the government has secured committed investors ready to set up the long-awaited value-addition plant.
“We’re going to establish a cocoa factory,” President Museveni told supporters. “I went to America long ago and asked them to come and make chocolate here, but they refused. Now we have serious investors, and we shall have our own factory.”
Bundibugyo contributes more than 70 percent of Uganda’s cocoa exports, making it a strategic foreign-exchange earner. Museveni said the planned factory will anchor a larger industrial ecosystem aimed at replicating models seen in Namanve and the Sino-Mbale Industrial Park.
“We shall not put only one factory but a town of factories like Namanve and Mbale,” he said, referencing industrial parks that collectively employ tens of thousands of Ugandans.
The President reiterated that Uganda’s future job creation lies in commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and ICT—not in the public sector. “There are only 480,000 government jobs, yet we are 50 million Ugandans. How will those jobs sustain us all?” he asked, citing private-sector entrepreneurs such as poultry farmer Johnson Basangwa of Kamuli, who employs 300 workers.
He encouraged young people to embrace skills development, referencing success stories from Ntoroko Industrial Hub, where graduates are now running thriving tailoring and carpentry enterprises.
Museveni also used the rally to highlight the NRM’s “seven contributions” to Uganda—beginning with the restoration of peace. “Uganda had become ungovernable. People died, and properties were destroyed. But when NRM came, peace returned,” he said, contrasting this stability with insecurity in neighbouring DR Congo.
On infrastructure, he acknowledged the poor state of the Mubende–Fort Portal–Bundibugyo road and assured residents that rehabilitation plans are underway. He warned, however, against “misplaced prioritisation” by public servants demanding salary increments while key infrastructure remains incomplete. “Teachers strike, wanting higher salaries now. But what do I do first—fix the road for Bamba and Bakonjo or increase salaries? We must prioritise,” he said.
Turning to education, the President noted that Bundibugyo has 107 government primary schools and 12 secondary schools. He reaffirmed the NRM plan to ensure every parish has a primary school and every sub-county a secondary school.
On health, Museveni outlined existing facilities—one government hospital, two HCIVs, 14 HCIIIs—and announced new HCIII projects in Ngite, Bundingoma, Busoru, Bulyambwa, Mabere, Mbatya, Ndugutu, Kagugu, Ntoroko and Buganikere Town Council. He said ongoing upgrades include Ntotoro HCIII, Kyondo HCIII and a maternity complex at Nyahuka HCIV.
Emphasising prevention, Museveni said he remains healthy at 81 because he follows the same advice he gives Ugandans: “Prevention is better than cure.” He urged residents to embrace immunisation, clean water and good hygiene, and condemned the theft of medicines in health centres. “I have given you the gun to shoot the thief, but you don’t know how to use it. Elect serious leaders who will supervise your interests,” he said.
On wealth creation, Museveni encouraged households to embrace commercial agriculture, citing Bundibugyo farmer Benard Kacuro, who reportedly earns up to Shs 75 million per month during peak cocoa harvests. He also referenced cattle farmer George Matongo of Nakaseke, who earns about Shs 250 million annually despite living far from a tarmac road.
He reminded residents of the NRM’s four-acre model—combining coffee, fruits, food crops and dairy zero-grazing with poultry, piggery and fish farming—which he said Bundibugyo farmers have embraced successfully.
Speaker of Parliament and NRM Second National Vice Chairperson, Rt. Hon. Anita Among confirmed ongoing progress toward the creation of Bughendera District. She warned local leaders against mobilising residents against government programmes. “You cannot refuse people to attend rallies over district issues that are already in process,” she said.
Bundibugyo District NRM Chairperson, Mr David Kabyanga, thanked the President for what he called significant achievements under the NRM. He said the assessment for the cocoa factory is complete, and the district now awaits construction. He reported that Bundibugyo has received Shs 40.6 billion under the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Shs 1.5 billion for 36 Emyooga SACCOs, alongside Shs 1 billion for repairs of flood-damaged roads and bridges.
Kabyanga appealed for special funding to address the district’s frequent landslides. “Before the roads are completed, landslides come and destroy the work. We need special facilitation for road funds,” he told the President.
Museveni assured residents that the government remains committed to supporting Bundibugyo’s transformation—beginning with a cocoa factory that he said will boost production, processing and long-term household incomes.