President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has placed industrialisation at the centre of his campaign message in the Tooro sub-region, pledging to establish a major industrial park as part of the NRM’s development blueprint. Addressing crowds at St. Leo’s College Kyegobe Playground in Fort Portal City, the NRM flagbearer said government has already secured 10 square miles of land in Kyaka for the project.
Museveni told residents of Kabarole District and Fort Portal City that the industrial park will drive value addition, expand job opportunities and strengthen the region’s economy. He anchored the promise in the NRM’s long-standing pillars: peace, development, wealth creation and job creation, arguing that these remain the bedrock of Uganda’s transformation.
He said the Rwenzori region understands the cost of instability better than most, given its proximity to conflict in eastern DR Congo. Peace, he noted, was secured through rejecting sectarian politics and building strong national institutions, including the army, police and judiciary.
On infrastructure, Museveni highlighted major improvements, reminding residents that when the NRM took power, tarmac roads ended at Mityana. The construction of the Mityana–Mubende–Fort Portal road and other key routes, he said, unlocked social and economic progress. Road upgrades and maintenance will continue, although he criticised some sub-counties for failing to properly maintain marrum roads despite receiving funding. Government will investigate claims of mismanagement.
Turning to wealth creation, Museveni insisted that infrastructure alone cannot make individuals prosperous. He encouraged households to adopt the four-acre model of mixed farming, combining coffee, fruits, pasture, food crops, poultry and piggery, describing it as the most efficient strategy for small landholders. He cited Minister of State for Transport Fred Byamukama as a successful example.
He also announced a revolving fertiliser fund to boost farm productivity. Uganda’s annual coffee output has reached 9 million bags, which he said demonstrates growing national and household wealth.
On job creation, Museveni pointed to opportunities emerging from commercial agriculture, factories, services and ICT. The proposed industrial park, he added, will accelerate this momentum. He urged urban youth and non-farmers to embrace government skilling programmes to escape poverty.
Speaker of Parliament Anita Among thanked the President for elevating Fort Portal to city status and urged residents to rally behind him. Local NRM leaders Victoria Businge Rusoke and Claire Kasande praised the President for delivering improvements in education, health, water and electricity, pledging overwhelming support for his candidacy.
