Rubanda - President Yoweri Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential flag bearer, has pledged to expand the road network in Rubanda and neighbouring districts to boost tourism, ease transport, and increase household incomes.
Speaking during a campaign rally in Rubanda, the President said better roads will play a central role in unlocking the region’s economic potential, especially its rich tourism attractions such as Lake Bunyonyi, Mgahinga National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Museveni said the NRM’s 2026–2031 Manifesto will build on the foundation of peace, development and prosperity, reminding residents of Rubanda and Kisoro that they understand the value of stability due to their proximity to conflict-prone areas in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
“After defeating Kony and the other rebel groups that once disturbed our people, we secured this peace. And we must protect it,” he said.
Highlighting infrastructure as a priority for his next term, Museveni pointed to road works already completed, including the Kabale–Kisoro Road. He announced that government has secured funding for the Katuna–Muko–Kamuganguzi Road and assured residents that the Kisoro–Nkuringo–Buguri–Buko Road, the Kabale–Bunyonyi–Kisoro–Mgahinga route and the Hamurwa–Kerere–Kanungu–Kanyantorogo–Butogota–Buhoma/Ifasha–Ikumba stretch will all be upgraded.
“These strategic roads will boost tourism, improve access to markets and increase incomes,” he said.
The President also revisited his long-standing message on household wealth creation. He praised dairy farmers who embraced modern livestock practices in the 1960s, recalling how they abandoned nomadic grazing and transitioned into commercial production.
He urged families with small pieces of land to adopt intensive farming models that guarantee income. “If you have two acres and grow cotton or tobacco, you get little per year. You must produce a good or service for sale and you must do it with ekibalo,” he said.
Museveni explained the Four-Acre Model, recommending coffee on one acre, fruits on another, and pasture for dairy on the third. The fourth acre should cater to family food, while the backyard can accommodate poultry, piggery or fish farming.
He said fish ponds on one acre can generate up to Shs 80 million annually. On the Parish Development Model (PDM), the President reminded beneficiaries that the funds are not handouts. “This PDM is your bank. It is not a giveaway. It’s a revolving fund meant to uplift you from poverty,” he said, warning against misuse or failure to repay.
Museveni later handed over NRM flags to parliamentary, district and local council candidates in Rubanda, formally endorsing them for the upcoming elections. The Minister of State for Finance (General Duties) and Rubanda East MP, Hon. Henry Musasizi, thanked the President for improvements in education, health, water and electricity. He asked for stronger police measures to curb village thefts affecting communities. Former Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda welcomed Museveni to Kigezi and encouraged residents to maintain their support.
Rubanda District has recorded progress in service delivery, with 110 government primary schools and 81 private ones now operational.
The area hosts nine government secondary schools and 29 private institutions, with USE and UPE benefiting over 5,000 students. Out of 70 parishes, 45 have a government primary school, and two Seed Secondary Schools under construction will reduce the number of sub-counties without a government school.
The district has also expanded its health infrastructure, including the upgrading of Muko HCIV and a plan to elevate several lower-level facilities to HCIII status. New HCIIIs are planned for Bubaare, Kacere and Katojo, while Rubanda West has a general hospital and Rubanda East a HCIV.
Access to safe water has improved, though 46 percent of villages remain unserved. Recently completed works include protected springs, gravity flow schemes and expanded town water systems in Rubanda, Hamurwa, Muko, Bufundi and other centres. Future projects include piped water systems for Nshanjare, Katojo and Mugyera.
Rubanda is now fully connected to the national grid, with the next phase focusing on extending power to remaining sub-counties. On economic empowerment, district records show that 20,733 households have benefited from PDM funds, and Rubanda hosts 32 Emyooga SACCOs with a combined membership of nearly 21,000.