President Museveni has pledged to improve transport infrastructure in Kyotera District, promising the construction of a key road and a bridge to boost mobility, trade and socio-economic activity in border communities along Lake Victoria and the Tanzania frontier.
Addressing supporters during a campaign rally on December 19, at St James Playground in Kasaali Town Council, Museveni said his government would build the Kyapa-Kasensero Road to link the Kyotera-Mutukula Highway to Kasensero landing site.
The road, he said, would ease trade flows, improve access to social services and lower transport costs for residents in the area.
Museveni also announced plans to construct a bridge linking Kasensero landing site to Nangoma Island, whose residents currently depend on boats for transport.
The island lies along the Uganda-Tanzania border and is separated from the mainland by the Kagera River.
He said government had initially considered introducing a ferry to serve the route, but technical assessments by experts found the water conditions unsuitable, prompting a decision to build a bridge instead.
‘The people of the islands, including civil servants, have faced serious challenges moving from one place to another. This has slowed down service delivery and development,’ Museveni said, adding: ‘The bridge will ease movement and help the community to grow.’
The President pointed to his administration’s record in road construction in areas such as Ssembabule and along the Masaka-Bukakata corridor, saying similar infrastructure development could be achieved in Kyotera.
He said improved transport networks were critical to integrating rural and border communities into the national economy.
Beyond infrastructure, Museveni urged residents to tap into government wealth-creation initiatives, particularly the Parish Development Model (PDM) and the Emyooga programme, arguing that household-level empowerment was central to sustainable development.
‘I don’t know why most African countries ignore empowering households, yet that is the best way to transform a community,’ Museveni said, calling on residents to actively participate in the programmes.
Earlier, Speaker of Parliament Anita Annet Among told the rally that Kyotera’s development had previously been hindered by opposition leaders who, she said, prioritised opposing the government over service delivery.
‘As the people of Kyotera, you stand to benefit more if you elect NRM leaders who work with the government, not those who only oppose,’ Among said.
She urged voters to support National Resistance Movement candidates in the forthcoming elections, naming Haruna Kasolo for Kyotera County Member of Parliament, Scola Kalibbala for District Woman MP, Kaka for Kakuuto County MP, and Peter Sasira for district chairperson.
Museveni’s campaign trail is set to continue on Saturday, December 20, 2025, with rallies scheduled in Kalangala and Kalungu districts as he steps up engagements with voters across the region ahead of the January 15, 2026 presidential election, where he faces seven opposition candidates.