President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Monday, 24th November 2025, made a spirited appeal to Ugandans to rally behind the National Resistance Movement (NRM), emphasising the party’s role in securing peace, development and socio-economic transformation over nearly four decades.
Addressing thousands of jubilant supporters at Saaza Grounds in Kisoro District, the NRM national chairman and 2026 presidential flag bearer kicked off his first major rally in western Uganda as he intensified his re-election bid.
Welcomed with thunderous chants from supporters who filled the expansive grounds, President Museveni said the country still needs the NRM to consolidate gains already made and to steer Uganda toward high middle-income status.
“The reasons we are here are to ask you to support the National Resistance Movement and to give you the reasons why,” he said.
“People move around saying, ‘support me, support me,’ but ask them what they have done for the country. Uganda has had many problems — sugar shortages, cement, salt, clothes — but we have solved many of them. Most of the work has been done by the NRM.”
He reiterated the campaign theme, “Protecting the Gains as We Make a Qualitative Leap into a High Middle-income Status,” noting that the next phase of Uganda’s transformation requires continuity, discipline and a deliberate focus on wealth creation at household level.
President Museveni outlined what he described as seven major contributions of the NRM, beginning with peace, which he said remains the foundation of all progress.
“You, the people of Kisoro, know the importance of peace,” he told the cheering crowd, referencing the formerly volatile border region and praising residents for supporting government efforts to secure the area.
The second contribution, he said, is development, citing improvements in transport, electricity, communication and education over the years. He pointed to road upgrades from Kampala to Mbarara and Kisoro, and promised the completion of additional critical routes, including the Kabale–Kisoro–Mgahinga National Park road, which is under construction, and the Kisoro–Muko–Rukiri–Katoojo road.
On education, the President said the sector in Kisoro has greatly expanded under the NRM, with 136 government primary schools and 14 government secondary schools offering Universal Secondary Education (USE) and Universal Post-O-Level Education and Training.
However, he expressed concern over the unequal distribution of government schools across the district’s 71 parishes. Of these, 45 parishes have at least one government primary school, while 26 parishes have none.
“There are parishes with more than one government primary school, leaving 26 without. This is not good,” President Museveni said.
“Government schools should be distributed fairly.”
He added that at secondary level, out of 24 sub-counties, 10 still lack a government secondary school.
Wealth creation at household level
President Museveni used the Kisoro rally to revisit one of his long-standing messages: distinguishing development from wealth.
“We have tarmac roads up to Bunagana and Cyanika to Kabale, but people don’t sleep on the road,” he said.
“That is why NRM emphasises wealth creation for every household.”
He highlighted success stories that demonstrate the potential of Uganda’s rural economy when the right agricultural models are adopted.
One example was George Matongo of Ngoma, Nakaseke, who, despite living 70 miles from the nearest tarmac road, produces 900 litres of milk daily, earning about Shs 21 million a month.
“Development may still be lacking, but wealth is there,” President Museveni said.
“That is why we tell you to create wealth, and the tarmac road will find you.”
He also revisited the 4-acre model, first introduced in the 1996 manifesto, which encourages smallholder farmers to diversify into high-value enterprises such as coffee, fruits, dairy, poultry, piggery and fish farming.
The President cited Joseph Basangwa, a prominent poultry farmer from Kamuli, who turned to farming after failing to win a district leadership seat in 2007.
“Basangwa is selling 110,000 eggs a day, earning Shs 20 million daily — that’s Shs 600 million a month and Shs 7.2 billion a year,” he said.
“He listened to our message. I advised him to join wealth creation, and now he employs 300 people.”
On employment, President Museveni stressed that jobs come from four key sectors: commercial agriculture, industry and manufacturing, services and ICT. He highlighted the growing contribution of industrialisation, noting that factories now employ 1.3 million Ugandans, compared to 480,000 on the government payroll.
He singled out the Sino-Mbale Industrial Park, which hosts more than 75 factories, as an example of NRM’s deliberate strategy to promote manufacturing. Even small enterprises, he added, are central to job creation, praising young people trained under the Presidential Skilling Hubs for using hands-on vocational skills to start businesses in welding, carpentry, tailoring, hairdressing, bakery, leather design and construction.
According to the President, Uganda has made significant progress under the NRM, but it needs stability and continuity to secure a prosperous future.
“With your support, we shall consolidate the achievements and continue transforming Uganda,” he said.
NRM leaders call for unity and massive support
Several top NRM leaders accompanied the presidential candidate to Kisoro and echoed calls for unity and overwhelming support for President Museveni in the 2026 elections.
Rt. Hon. Annet Anita Among, the NRM Second National Vice Chairperson and Speaker of Parliament, thanked President Museveni for transforming Uganda.
“The people in the north and east have promised 90% of the votes. From Kisoro to Masindi, we expect you to vote 100%,” she said.
Among also praised the improved road network in western Uganda.
“I have passed on this road from Kabale to Kisoro, and I must confess, it is a beautiful road,” she said, adding that Ugandans would vote for NRM to express gratitude for the peace and development the country has enjoyed.
“I wonder when people come here and say you have done nothing. The votes we are giving you this time are for appreciating what you have done,” she stressed.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, described President Museveni’s decision to begin his western Uganda campaigns in Kisoro as “a sign of love,” and urged residents to maintain unity.
NRM Vice Chairperson for Western Uganda, Hon. Asiimwe Jonard, said the region remains a stronghold for the party.
“The gains in western Uganda are many. We are going to support the party as children of NRM,” Hon. Asiimwe said, calling for unity under the party.
