Kampala-based lawyer Dan Musinguzi Nabaasa has officially picked nomination forms to contest for the Kabale Municipality parliamentary seat in the 2026 general elections, vowing to unseat the incumbent.
Speaking to https://thesource.co.ug/ shortly after Picking the forms on Wednesday, Musinguzi said his top priority will be to ensure the full operationalization of Kabale City, which he believes holds the key to unlocking growth in infrastructure, funding for public services, job creation, and investment opportunities.
He added that Kabale, as the commercial heart of Kigezi, is well-positioned to benefit from Uganda’s ongoing and planned mega projects.
“This is a defining moment in Uganda’s development history,” Musinguzi said. “We are witnessing oil extraction, the building of a refinery and pipeline, the construction of a new international airport, and the planned standard gauge railway. These are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, and Kabale must be strategically positioned to take advantage of them.”
Musinguzi noted that Kabale’s new city status comes with numerous opportunities, including access to more government funding, improved infrastructure, and increased private sector investment.
He said the city’s location, at the crossroads of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, makes it a natural hub for trade, education, tourism, and logistics.
“The East African Community is expanding, and Kabale is right at the center of this trade corridor,” he explained. “By 2040, nearly half of East Africa’s 400 million people will live in urban centers. Kabale must prepare now to be among the beneficiaries of this growth.”
Musinguzi argued that foresighted leadership is needed to guide Kabale through this transformation, warning that opportunities could slip away if the region fails to build the skills, infrastructure, and institutions required.
A key focus of his campaign is equipping young people with marketable skills. Musinguzi envisions programs that will transform secondary school graduates, boda boda riders, and small-scale traders into professionals and technicians capable of thriving in industries such as oil, steel, transport, and ICT.
“Luck and opportunity will come, but only the prepared will make use of them,” he said. “We must ensure our students and youth are ready to take high-paying jobs as engineers, doctors, ICT specialists, and entrepreneurs.” He said.
Musinguzi also pledged to support teachers, health workers and small business owners in Kabale by lobbying for better opportunities to supplement their incomes and secure brighter futures for their families.
Musinguzi’s manifesto outlines several priority areas:
Education: Positioning Kabale as an education hub for the Kigezi region and neighboring countries, by strengthening local universities and vocational institutions, and embracing ICT and science-based skills.
Healthcare: Expanding Kabale Hospital and medical training institutions to attract specialists and turn Kabale into a center for health excellence.
Tourism: Tapping into Lake Bunyonyi’s scenic beauty and hilly terrain to boost tourism, with opportunities in destination weddings, cycling competitions, and high-altitude sports training.
Trade and Industry: Developing Kabale into a cross-border logistics hub, with dry port facilities, industrial parks, and value-addition enterprises for local produce such as Irish potatoes and vegetables.
Culture and Diaspora: Promoting cultural heritage through festivals, museums, and investment in traditional foods, while also engaging the Kigezi diaspora to invest back home.
Musinguzi stressed that his leadership would not stop at lawmaking and oversight. He promised to be an active lobbyist, fundraiser, and networker, mobilizing investment, inspiring youth, and building partnerships across government, civil society, and the private sector.
“We need leadership that provides direction, builds unity, instills hope, and attracts investment,” he said. “My mission is to unite Kabale beyond divisions of tribe, religion, or class, and to ensure that our people are part of Uganda’s growth story.” He remarked.
He called for collective effort to prepare Kabale for the opportunities ahead, declaring: “This is the best time to be Ugandan, the best time to be East African, and the best time to position Kabale as a model city for growth and prosperity.”
CUE IN MUSINGUZI…..ON PRIORITY AREAS……RR/ENG//
