Karugutu, Ntoroko — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential flag bearer, has promised urgent government intervention for more than 9,000 people displaced by floods in Ntoroko District.
Addressing a campaign rally at Karugutu Secondary School on Friday, President Museveni said he had already directed his Principal Private Secretary to coordinate an immediate high-level response. “I have directed the PPS to invite the Prime Minister and the Head of Public Service to come and deal with the issue of the 9,000 flood victims who are stuck here,” he said.
The displaced residents have lived in temporary shelters since 2019 after Lake Albert’s rising water levels and the River Semliki’s overflow submerged homes, schools and health facilities in Kanara Town Council and Kanara Sub-county.
The President assured the community that the government would handle the matter without delay and said the budget for the Semliki Bridge would also be reviewed.
On complaints surrounding access to Parish Development Model (PDM) funds, he ordered the Minister for Local Government, Hon. Raphael Magyezi, and the PDM Secretariat to meet affected residents and resolve the issue of costly processing.
Turning to national issues, Museveni emphasised that Uganda’s progress rests on stability. “We have maintained peace under the NRM government. We border Congo, and today we host about 700,000 refugees from there. We are surrounded by wars in Congo, South Sudan and Somalia, but Uganda remains stable,” he said.
He cited significant investments in roads, electricity and security, while acknowledging delays due to limited resources. “We the soldiers have survived all these years on the principle of Kamu Kamu, gwe muganda,” he noted.
Museveni highlighted improvements in Ntoroko’s education sector, which now has 38 government and 44 private primary schools, as well as five government and nine private secondary schools.
He announced major health upgrades, including the elevation of Karugutu HCIV to a General Hospital, upgrading Musandama HCII to HCIII and constructing new HCIIIs in Kibuku Town Council, Karugutu and Rwebisengo sub-counties. Four of the district’s ten sub-counties still lack an HCIII, HCIV or hospital.
The President reaffirmed commitments to continuing nationwide immunisation, accelerating malaria eradication efforts, using ICT to track medicines, reducing health worker absenteeism and building staff housing. He thanked Ntoroko residents for their resilience and support to the NRM, and handed over party flags to parliamentary, district and local government candidates.
Representing the First Lady, Mrs Natasha Karugire Museveni, thanked supporters for their turnout. “Thank you for coming, I want to thank Mzee. Many young people and I are grateful for your tireless work ensuring the peace of Uganda and our continued advancement,” she said.
She urged Ugandans to protect the peace achieved over the decades. “It is our responsibility to preserve it, and we do that by voting,” she added.
Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Anitah Among praised President Museveni for restoring stability in Ntoroko. “Your Excellency, thank you for the work you have done in this district. This place has faced situations of insecurity, but you have ensured that our people now sleep in their homes,” she said.
Among said funds had already been allocated to upgrade the Karugutu road, and Shs 22 billion had been provided in the supplementary budget for flood-affected communities. She urged quick action on resettling the 9,634 displaced residents. “Now that you know the problem, we believe you are going to resolve it,” she said.
She also commended the Doctor Dee Project, saying it had boosted services in roads, health, education and border areas.
Hon. Martin Mugarra Bahinduka, Ntoroko’s NRM Chairperson and State Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, outlined the district’s development footprint. According to the 2024 census, Ntoroko has 114,858 residents across 10 sub-counties, 46 parishes and 178 villages.
He reported strong progress under PDM, with Shs 16.7 billion disbursed to SACCOs, of which Shs 14.5 billion has reached 14,509 households—71.89% of all households. The district also has 18 Emyooga SACCOs with 9,777 members who have received Shs 760 million.
Mugarra highlighted gains in education, noting the district’s 38 government and 44 private primary schools. All five government secondary schools offer USE and UPOLET, serving 3,251 learners. Construction of four Seed Secondary Schools is underway.
He praised progress at the Ntoroko Industrial Zonal Skilling Hub, which has trained 937 youths, with 240 more enrolled.
Water access now stands at 62.35%, with 111 of 178 villages served. Completed projects include piped water expansions, borehole rehabilitation, rainwater harvesting, and sanitation improvements. Planned works include new solar-powered water schemes in flood-prone areas.
Underwater for production, the Kiranga Small-Scale Irrigation Scheme—covering 12 acres—benefits 24 households and produces over nine tonnes of horticultural produce annually.
Mugarra added that seven of Ntoroko’s 10 sub-counties are connected to the national grid. Electrification for Kanara Sub-county, Kanara Town Council and Bweramule is planned to achieve full coverage.
The rally was attended by NRM CEC members, MPs, religious and cultural leaders, and thousands of supporters.