President Museveni on Thursday acknowledged long delays in fixing roads and delivering basic services in parts of the country, blaming competing national priorities, particularly security, as he campaigned for another term ahead of elections early next year.
Addressing a rally at Kibaale playground in Byakabanda Sub-county, Rakai District, Museveni said government resources had been directed first to stabilising the country after years of conflict.
‘Your roads would have been constructed a long time ago, but we had to first deal with security. Some of our soldiers are still sleeping in huts, but we had to buy guns to protect Ugandans,’ Museveni said, adding: ‘Security comes first. Without peace, there is no development.’
He said the focus on security had also constrained the government’s ability to raise salaries for some civil servants, including teachers, an issue that has drawn public criticism.
‘I’m now harsh. I don’t want to listen to issues of salaries anymore,’ Museveni remarked.
He added: ‘I’m happy that even my daughter, the Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, no longer reminds me about salary increments. You now have phones, you have some services. We had to secure the country first.’
Museveni pledged that if re-elected, his government would intensify efforts to repair dilapidated roads, expand access to clean water and strengthen social services.
Citing official records, he said Rakai had made progress in water coverage, telling residents: ‘My file here shows that out of the 446 villages, 405 villages have clean water, which is about 90 percent coverage. Is it true?’
However, Rakai District NRM chairperson and Buyamba County MP Gyaviira Ssemwanga challenged the figures, saying actual access was far lower.
‘Your Excellency, our water coverage currently stands at about 25 percent. Some water sources are recorded as functional, but in reality they are not safe or reliable,’ Ssemwanga said, drawing applause.
Museveni, 82, acknowledged the shortfall and said the government would extend clean water from River Kagera, a regional project already serving neighbouring districts.
‘Areas like Mbarara and Isingiro are already benefiting from this project. Since Rakai neighbours Isingiro District, it will be easier to extend clean water here,’ he said.
The president also said oil revenues expected to start flowing next year would be channelled into infrastructure development.
‘Oil was hidden for a long time, even when the whites were here, but it was only discovered under the NRM government,’ Museveni said. ‘Oil money is coming next year. We want to construct roads, railways and electricity lines, not just give out money for salaries to be eaten.’
He pledged to upgrade several health facilities to Health Centre III status and assured residents that electricity access would be expanded to all sub-counties.
Closing his remarks, Museveni cautioned against focusing solely on infrastructure.
‘People talk about roads, but you can have a tarmac road like Kyotera Road for many years and still find people living near it who are poor,’ he said. ‘Let us also focus on wealth creation at household level.’
Museveni will be hoping to stretch his rule to over 40 years if he defeats seven opposition candidates in early next year’s vote.
Last election
During the 2021 general election, President Yoweri Museveni secured 47,288 votes (57.83%), while his closest challenger, National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, garnered 33,267 votes (40.69%).Other candidates trailed far behind: FDC’s Patrick Amuriat received 219 votes (0.27%), DP’s Norbert Mao 99 votes (0.12%), Alliance for National Transformation’s Mugisha Muntu 105 votes (0.28%), Joseph Kabuleta 129 votes (0.16%), John Katumba 122 votes (0.15%), Willy Mayambala 33 votes (0.28%), Fred Mwesigye 105 votes (0.13%), and Henry Tumukunde 214 votes (0.26%).