The Head of the RDC Secretariat and Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) in the Office of the President, Maj. Martha Asiimwe, has warned civil servants and local leaders in Rukungiri District against the misuse of public resources, urging security agencies to remain vigilant against corruption, shoddy work, absenteeism and theft of government funds.
Maj. Asiimwe issued the warning on Thursday during a monitoring meeting with district leaders, where she emphasized the need for collaboration, accountability and effective implementation of key government programmes to ensure tangible impact at the grassroots level.
She challenged leaders to intensify civic education, promote environmental protection and strengthen community mobilisation through radio programmes, barazas and local networks. She also encouraged citizens to actively participate in and monitor government initiatives.
“Government programmes are not favours; they are rights. Citizens must ask questions, demand accountability and participate fully,” she said.
Maj. Asiimwe commended Rukungiri District for its strong support of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the steady socio-economic progress registered over the years. District officials reaffirmed their commitment to improving service delivery, infrastructure development and fighting corruption.
She thanked residents for overwhelmingly supporting President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in the 2026 elections, where he secured 77.18 percent of the vote in the district, describing the outcome as a clear sign of public confidence in the NRM’s development agenda.
According to Maj. Asiimwe, government is concluding the 2021–2026 term with strong performance, having delivered on most of its commitments, particularly in wealth creation, infrastructure, education, health and security.
She noted that the next five years will focus on expanding the economy, improving infrastructure, strengthening human capital, deepening democracy and enhancing regional integration.
Highlighting key achievements, Maj. Asiimwe pointed to progress under the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga programmes, both aimed at transitioning households from subsistence to the money economy.
In Rukungiri District, Shs 28.13 billion has been disbursed under PDM, benefiting 32.7 percent of households. Additionally, 54 Emyooga SACCOs have received Shs 2.56 billion to expand access to affordable credit for community groups. She said these interventions are already improving household incomes and livelihoods.
Rukungiri boasts a strong education network, with 178 government primary schools, 181 private primary schools, 30 government secondary schools and 29 private secondary schools, 28 of which offer Universal Secondary Education (USE).
Health services have also improved, with four Health Centre IVs and 13 Health Centre IIIs, leaving only one sub-county without a HCIII. Safe water coverage stands at 85 percent, while electricity connectivity continues to expand across the district.
Maj. Asiimwe reiterated government’s commitment to free education, revealing plans to recruit 50,000 teachers nationwide in the next term to strengthen UPE and USE and eliminate illegal charges in schools.
She further noted that Uganda’s tarmacked road network has grown from 1,900 kilometres in 1986 to 6,850 kilometres today, with the total national road network now standing at about 21,000 kilometres.
In Rukungiri, improved road infrastructure has reduced travel time to Kampala from several days to approximately six hours. The district also receives UGX 1 billion annually for road rehabilitation under the Ministry of Works and Transport.
Emphasizing the importance of stability, Maj. Asiimwe said peace and security remain the foundation of Uganda’s development, noting that the country hosts over 1.5 million refugees due to its stability, a reflection of strong security and regional confidence.
She called for unity, reconciliation and teamwork among political, technical and security leaders to safeguard development gains and deliver better services to citizens.
Maj. Asiimwe reaffirmed the Office of the President’s commitment to working closely with Rukungiri leaders and residents to build a more prosperous, secure and united Uganda.
She said the visit forms part of a nationwide effort to strengthen coordination, enhance transparency and ensure that citizens fully benefit from government programmes.
