By PPU
Hajji Bruhan Sserunga, a veteran community leader and father of Hon.
Mubarak Munyagwa, the presidential candidate for the Common Man’s
Party, has publicly hailed President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his
exceptional leadership, sending a strong message of respect and
confidence ahead of the elections.
Speaking to thousands of President Museveni’s supporters during a
campaign rally at Kayombo Primary School in Kitagwenda, Mzee
Sserunga declared, “I am a civilian veteran. I helped the NRA war
people by offering shelter. I have seen where this country has come from
and where it is going. I hail President Museveni for his good and wise
leadership.”
He also praised the President’s vision for peace, development, and
wealth creation, highlighting how the community has benefited from the
government’s various development programs. Mzee Sserunga further
requested the people of Kitagwenda to overwhelmingly vote for
President Museveni for another term in office for more development.
President Museveni, visibly moved, commended Mzee Sserunga for his
lifelong service to the nation, saying his counsel and support have been
invaluable to the local communities.
“I thank God for enabling me to meet my veteran comrade Mzee Bruhan
Sserunga, the father of Munyagwa, who understands the challenges of
our fishing communities, I will engage him further,” he said.
On the other hand, President Museveni hailed Kitagwenda farmers for
engaging into the money economy, something that he has emphasized
since the 1960s.
“I thank the farmers in Kitagwenda. I have been informed that 60% of the
homes are already engaged in the money economy, this is good news, it
is something that we have been talking about since the 1960s, wealth
creation at the household level is key for you as an individual,” he said.
The President highlighted the distinction between development and
wealth, noting that while development benefits the entire community,
wealth creation is an individual, family, or company-based endeavor.
“Many people confuse development and wealth. Development is for all,
but wealth is personal. In Banyankole, when one is blessing another,
they say, kazaare, katungye ente no tookye, they don’t say katungye
tarmac,” he explained.
He emphasized that despite the presence of long-standing
infrastructure, such as tarmac roads, some people remain poor.
“Yes, development is key, but wealth at a household level is something
that shouldn’t be taken for granted,” President Museveni said.
On peace and security, the President expressed gratitude to the Local
Defence Units (LDU) for supporting the army in defeating the ADF
rebels.
“The people of Kitagwenda are neighbors to Congo; you are witnesses
that without peace, people die, property is destroyed, and lives are
ruined. The NRM has refused war,” he noted.
The President also pledged that the government is going to work on the
Ibanda–Kagongo–Kabujogera–Kamwenge road.
“We have secured a loan for this project,” he said, adding that some
infrastructural delays are due to prioritization, as the army often focuses
first on security and equipment.
Turning to wealth creation, President Museveni praised individuals
practicing practical farming. He highlighted Mr. George Matongo, a local
farmer who transitioned from subsistence farming to earning income
through modern commercial agriculture.
“If you don’t have income in your homes, you are causing problems for
your family but also for your country because the government gets taxes
from what you buy. When you have no money, you are not contributing
to your family or your nation,” he stressed.
President Museveni also pledged to set up a coffee factory to support
farmers in the district.
On job creation, the President said, “Government jobs are only 480,000.
Factories alone have created 1.3 million jobs. I really feel sorry for Africa
when people call themselves leaders by just talking. When you produce
a good, who buys it? The internal market is not enough. That’s why the
NRM says: let’s have Uganda unite maximally. When I produce milk in
Mbarara, I am happy when the people of Arua buy it. We need a broader
market, Uganda, East Africa, and Africa.”
President Museveni also highlighted success stories from the
Presidential Skilling Hubs.
He shared the story of Ninsiima Moria from Kitagwenda District, who
dropped out in Primary Three but later joined the Kyenjojo Presidential
Skilling Hub.
“I studied hairdressing and mindset change for six months free of
charge. Everything such as food, accommodation, and medicine was
provided,” Ninsiima said.
“After training, I started my own salon and now I employ two workers. I
also train students and earn an income every weekend. I have 20 hens
and a coffee plantation.”
The President praised Ninsiima, noting that she is now skilled, a wealth
creator, and an employer.
On her part, the Speaker of Parliament and Second National Vice
Chairperson of the NRM, Hon. Anita Annet Among, hailed residents of
Kitagwenda for their loyalty to the ruling party and commended them for
warmly receiving the President during his visit to the district.
Rt. Hon. Among described Kitagwenda as a hard-to-reach area that has
historically faced service delivery challenges but credited the President
for granting the area district status, saying the move has laid a firm
foundation for accelerated development.
She praised the President for his continued support to farmers, noting
that Kitagwenda is predominantly a coffee-growing district whose
farmers rely heavily on access to quality seedlings and sustained
government backing to improve productivity and incomes.
The Speaker also commended the government for investing in water
infrastructure, citing the Kanara Gravity Water System, which cost
Shs375 million and is now serving more than 1,600 farmers, significantly
easing access to clean water for both domestic use and agricultural
activities.
On health services, Rt. Hon. Among backed the request raised by the
district leadership, confirming that Ntara Health Centre IV will be
upgraded to a district general hospital, a development she said will
improve access to specialised healthcare and reduce referrals outside
the district.
Regarding infrastructure, she informed residents that the
Ibanda–Kagongo–Kabujogera–Kamwenge road has already been
approved for construction, and assured them that works will commence
soon.
Rt. Hon. Among reaffirmed President Museveni’s commitment to youth
empowerment, describing him as a leader who consistently prioritises
young people through targeted programs aimed at employment creation
and wealth generation.
She concluded by urging unity within the NRM, stressing that party
cohesion remains central to sustaining peace and accelerating
development across communities.
The NRM Chairperson for Kitagwenda District, Mr. Nathan Masana
lauded President Museveni for maintaining peace and rolling out
government programs that are transforming livelihoods, particularly
among the youth, women and the elderly.
Mr. Masana noted that Kitagwenda is a young district, having been
carved out of Kamwenge in 2018 and beginning full operations in 2019.
Despite its youthful status, he said the district has registered steady
progress anchored on stability and targeted government interventions.
He particularly appreciated the Emyooga programme and the Parish
Development Model (PDM), which he said are steadily integrating
households into the money economy.
Kitagwenda District, Mr. Masana reported, is administratively composed
of 13 sub-counties and town councils, 55 parishes and 356 villages, with
a population of 184,947 people, according to the 2024 National
Population Census.
On wealth creation, he revealed that the district’s 55 parishes have
cumulatively received Shs16.89 billion under the PDM, with 99.91
percent of the funds already disbursed to 16,875 beneficiary
households.
Mr. Masana further informed the President that Kitagwenda has 18
Emyooga SACCOs with 12,543 members, which have so far received
Shs960 million in government support.
In the education sector, he noted that the district has 68 government and
88 private primary schools, as well as seven government and 13 private
secondary schools. Six government secondary schools offer Universal
Secondary Education (USE) and Universal Post-O-Level Education and
Training, with a combined enrollment of 32,703 learners.
However, he pointed out gaps in access, noting that 23 parishes still lack
a government primary school, while seven out of the 13 sub-counties do
not have a government secondary school.
Health service delivery, Mr. Masana said, remains a key challenge. Of
the 13 sub-counties, only one has a Health Centre IV and four have
Health Centre IIIs, leaving eight sub-counties without any health facility
of that level.
He therefore appealed for the upgrade of Ntara HCIV to a general
hospital and the elevation of several Health Centre IIs to Health Centre
IIIs, alongside the construction of new Health Centre IIIs in Ntara Town
Council, Kicheche, Ruhunga and Mahyoro sub-counties.
On water and sanitation, Mr. Masana reported that 62 percent of villages
have access to safe water, leaving 37.9 percent still unserved.
He highlighted major achievements, including the rehabilitation and
expansion of gravity flow schemes, construction of piped water systems
serving thousands of residents, solar-powered water projects, drilling of
boreholes and construction of public latrines.
He said government plans are underway to close the remaining gap
through solar-powered mini water schemes, rehabilitation of existing
sources, and targeted investments aimed at achieving universal safe
water coverage within the next two years.
In agriculture, Mr. Masana cited successful solar-powered irrigation
systems in Ntutu and Kyendangara sub-counties, which are boosting
coffee production and generating millions of shillings in annual income
for farmers.
On infrastructure, he welcomed the connection of Kitagwenda to the
national electricity grid, noting that eight sub-counties are already
connected, with the government pledging to extend power to the
remaining sub-counties in the next term.
He further appealed for the construction of the
Ibanda–Kagongo–Kabujogera–Kamwenge road, describing it as a vital
link for trade, service delivery and regional integration.
Mr. Masana concluded by expressing gratitude to the President for
peace and steady development, pledging continued support for the NRM
and government programs aimed at transforming the lives of ordinary
Ugandans.
The event was attended by NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC)
members, Members of Parliament, religious and cultural leaders, as well
as thousands of supporters.
