Museveni Assures Nakaseke Forest Settlers of Security, Pledges Lease Arrangements

Nakaseke — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has assured residents of Nakaseke District living in forest reserve areas that the government will not evict them but will instead regularise their stay through long-term lease arrangements that balance wealth creation with environmental conservation.

Addressing a campaign rally at Nakaseke District headquarters in Butalangu on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, President Museveni said the government would engage communities settled in forest reserves and allow them to continue using the land under leases of up to 49 years, on condition that they participate in tree planting and adopt sustainable land use practices.

“We are going to arrange to enable you to enter an agreement with the government to give you a lease on that land for something like 49 years,” Museveni said. “As you carry out your wealth creation activities, such as commercial farming and grazing animals, you will be required to preserve that land by planting trees.”

The President clarified that the affected land had originally been gazetted for forest establishment, but said restoration was still possible through community participation and agro-forestry. He distinguished such areas from protected natural forests. “If it was a traditional forest like Budongo Forest, I would have chased you,” Museveni added, drawing laughter from the crowd.

The assurance followed concerns raised by the NRM Second National Vice Chairperson, Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, who warned that residents in forest reserves such as Kanyogoga, Kamusenene, Wakyato and parts of Ngoma trading centre faced possible eviction by the National Forestry Authority (NFA). She said many of the settlements had grown into established communities with schools, health centres and places of worship, making eviction disruptive.

Nakaseke District hosts several central forest reserves, including Kapimpini and Kamusenene, which have come under increasing pressure from settlement, farming and grazing.

Museveni, who was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, said he was pleased to return to Bulemeezi, describing it as a historically diverse region.

“This is our traditional place with people from all walks of life — Baganda, Banyankore, Lugbara and others,” he said.

Nakaseke lies within the Luwero Triangle, a key battleground during the 1981–1986 NRA bush war. Using the rally to campaign for renewal of the NRM mandate ahead of the January 15, 2026, general election, Museveni outlined what he described as the party’s seven major achievements over the last four decades, starting with peace and security.

“Uganda was in wars for a long time, even before Europeans came, but it has been 40 years since the NRM has kept Uganda peaceful,” he said.

He argued that peace had laid the foundation for development, investment and wealth creation, including in areas once devastated by conflict.

On infrastructure, Museveni recalled that the Kampala–Luwero–Gulu road was once the only major route serving the region. He said the government had since invested in new and upgraded roads, including Matugga–Semuto–Kapeeka. “We have added on Kampala–Luwero–Butalangu, and we are going to expand it to Ngoma up to Masindi,” he said.

He urged voters to elect leaders who understand government priorities. “Ask the Members of Parliament you will elect to listen to my message, especially on the issue of prioritisation,” he said.

Museveni noted that Nakaseke previously had no electricity but now enjoys near-universal access, with plans to extend power to remaining areas. He also cited progress in education, saying the district now has numerous primary, secondary and technical institutions compared to very few in the past.

However, the President cautioned residents against relying only on social services and subsistence farming, stressing the importance of household-level wealth creation. “NRM has been telling you from the beginning that you must also work for the pocket, not only for eating,” he said.

He cited the example of George Matongo of Ngoma, a commercial dairy farmer who produces 900 litres of milk daily. “That man earns Shs21 million per month and over Shs200 million in a year,” Museveni said.

He challenged farmers with large land holdings to adopt intensive farming instead of extensive grazing. “Use your land profitably by planting grass and feeding many cows in a small place,” he advised.

The President also highlighted Joseph Ijara, who runs poultry and dairy farming on 2.5 acres. Starting with four cows, Ijara now has eight producing up to 36 litres per cow daily, alongside poultry. “He earns Shs6 million from eggs and about Shs800,000 from milk, totaling Shs6.8 million per month,” Museveni said. “On one acre, you can put eight dairy cows and get out of poverty.”

Museveni cited examples from outside Nakaseke to show that wealth creation is possible even in less developed regions. He referred to Korea Dick Ogira of Abim District in Karamoja, who received mango seedlings under Operation Wealth Creation and Shs1 million through the Parish Development Model.

“That man is in Abim, where there is no tarmac road, but he is creating wealth,” Museveni said. “Development may not be there, but wealth is there.”

He argued that wealth creation drives job creation, dismissing claims that government is the main employer. “Government jobs are only 480,000 against a population of 50 million,” he said. “Jobs are in commercial agriculture, manufacturing, artisanship, services and ICT.”

He cited industrial parks such as Sino-Mbale and Namanve, and closer to Nakaseke, Kapeeka Industrial Park, as examples of employment creation. During the rally, Museveni acknowledged concerns including land disputes, veterans’ welfare and poor road equipment, pledging continued engagement.

Maama Janet Museveni thanked residents for turning up in large numbers and urged them to protect NRM’s gains. “The people of Nakaseke must not forget that the rally should continue on January 15 by voting for Museveni and other NRM flag bearers,” she said.

The rally was attended by NRM leaders, ministers, MPs, party flag bearers and district officials.