Museveni Rallies Tooro, Welcomes Request for Industrial Park in Fort Portal

Fort Portal — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Saturday pitched his re-election bid to thousands of residents of Kabarole District and Fort Portal City, promising accelerated development and stronger service delivery if given another term in office.

Addressing supporters at St. Leo’s Kyegobe Playground, President Museveni said the National Resistance Movement (NRM) had delivered peace, stability and national unity over the past decades—achievements he said form the foundation for the country’s ongoing transformation.

“Communities in the Rwenzori sub-region understand the value of peace because of the instability in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo,” the President said, arguing that Uganda has remained stable because the NRM “rejected politics of sectarianism based on religion, tribe and gender.”

He added that this approach enabled the building of “strong national institutions such as the army, police and judiciary,” which continue to safeguard the country.

Museveni Highlights Infrastructure Gains

On development, President Museveni underscored the role of economic infrastructure—roads, electricity, telecommunications and railways. He reminded residents that when the NRM took power, “tarmac roads stopped in Mityana,” but the government extended the Mityana–Mubende–Fort Portal road and constructed several others, opening up the region to trade and investment.

He assured residents that work on both tarmac and marrum roads would continue, but expressed concern over the poor maintenance of marrum roads.

“Government has been sending money, but some sub-counties either lack adequate resources or mismanage what is allocated,” he said, promising that the issue would be investigated and resolved.

Teachers’ Salary Demands and National Priorities

Responding to recent demands for salary increments by teachers, the President said the government had been forced to prioritise key investments. “Soldiers still live in grass-thatched houses because we prioritised security over accommodation,” he said. “That is what enabled Uganda’s stability and growth.”

“Development Is Not Wealth”

The President revisited the NRM’s message on household income, insisting that development projects alone do not automatically translate into personal wealth.

He cited the example of Tumusime Deziranta of Rubirizi, who lived near a tarmac road for 64 years but remained poor. This, he said, illustrated the need to separate public development from individual wealth creation.

He reminded residents of the 1996 four-acre model, recommending enterprises such as coffee, fruits, pasture for dairy cattle, food crops, poultry, piggery and fish farming for those near wetlands.

He singled out the Minister of State for Transport, Hon. Fred Byamukama, as “a successful example” of the model. Museveni also announced that the government will create a revolving fund to help farmers access fertilisers for improved yields.

Uganda’s coffee production, he noted, has now reached 9 million bags annually, signalling progress for both farmers and the national economy.

Job Creation and Industrialisation Plans

President Museveni highlighted job creation as the NRM’s fourth major contribution, emphasising opportunities from commercial agriculture, factories, services and ICT.

He welcomed local leaders’ request for an industrial park in Fort Portal, revealing that the government has already secured 10 square miles in Kyaka for the project.

For urban residents and young people not engaged in agriculture, he encouraged enrolment in skilling programmes: “Embrace skilling to fight poverty and create employment,” he urged.

Local Leaders Praise NRM Achievements

Speaker of Parliament and NRM Second National Vice Chairperson, Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, thanked the President for elevating Fort Portal to city status. She appealed to residents to support President Museveni and all NRM flagbearers in the coming elections.

Kabarole District NRM Chairperson Hon. Victoria Businge Rusoke praised the NRM for restoring peace in the region, saying it has paved the way for substantial development. She also applauded the establishment of Mountains of the Moon University, which she said now serves nine districts.

She pledged “99% support” for President Museveni in the upcoming elections.

Fort Portal City NRM Chairperson Mrs Claire Kasande also thanked the President for the progress registered in education, health, water, electricity and other sectors across the city and district.

Museveni Makes Case for Continuity

President Museveni concluded his address by promising that the next term would bring even greater development to the people of Kabarole and Fort Portal.

“We shall continue what we started. The roads, the electricity, the jobs—we are not stopping,” he told supporters.

The rally in Fort Portal is part of the President’s wider campaign trail across the Tooro region as the country inches closer to the 2026 General Election.