President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Wednesday drew a large crowd at Karagalya grounds in Kiryandongo District, where he revisited the National Resistance Movement’s four decades of governance and its impact on the country.

Joined by First Daughter Natasha Museveni Karugire and senior NRM officials, Museveni reflected on his early visits to the area, recalling that places like Katulikire and Bweyale were once sparsely populated. He recounted resettling displaced people from Anaka during the Congo conflict, a move he said helped shape today’s vibrant Bweyale town.

The President highlighted peace as the NRM’s most significant achievement, attributing national stability to the government’s consistent rejection of religious, tribal, and other forms of discrimination. He said this approach has solidified Uganda’s institutions. He also pointed to nationwide improvements in roads, schools, and other infrastructure, while acknowledging local concerns about health facilities. Museveni pledged upgrades for Kigumba, Kiryandongo, and Panyadoli hospitals.

He expressed frustration that parts of Kiryandongo still lack electricity despite being home to major power installations, directing the Prime Minister to ensure distribution gaps are fixed.

On household prosperity, Museveni stressed that infrastructure alone cannot transform livelihoods without increased incomes. He repeated his call for families to adopt the four-acre model outlined in the 1996 Manifesto, noting that those with small landholdings should pursue the seven recommended enterprises, while large-scale farmers can engage in tea, cotton, ranching, and similar ventures. He reaffirmed that government initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga remain central to fighting poverty.

The President warned against unauthorized deductions from PDM funds, saying every beneficiary must receive the full allocation of UGX 1 million. “We shall deal with anyone reducing PDM money. That money is for the poor,” he cautioned.

Museveni also emphasized job creation through commercial agriculture, industry, services, and ICT, citing Kamuli poultry farmer Johnson Basangwa, who employs 300 people, as an example of enterprise-driven employment. He urged urban youth to take advantage of skilling hubs offering training in trades such as welding, baking, and hairdressing, saying the aim is to bring all Ugandans into the money economy.

Speaker of Parliament and NRM Second National Vice Chairperson (Female), Rt. Hon. Anita Among, applauded the President for hosting refugees in Kiryandongo, saying it proves Uganda remains secure. Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja credited Museveni for the peace that has spurred Bunyoro’s development.

District NRM Chairperson Hon. Linos Ngopek described Kiryandongo as a diverse district unified by the stability ushered in by the NRM. He pledged continued support for the party and welcomed the establishment of Karuma power station but raised concerns over limited local access to electricity, which he said hinders businesses in Bweyale Town Council. Ngopek also appealed for a modern market in Bweyale and the elevation of Kiryandongo Hospital into a highway referral facility to meet rising demand.