President Museveni, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential flagbearer, has promised to elevate Budaka Health Centre IV to a district general hospital. The announcement was made on November 13 as he addressed thousands of supporters at his campaign rally at Budaka Saza grounds, drawing cheers and applause from the crowd.
‘It is government policy that each district should have a general hospital. This will be worked on even at constituency level so that we have health centre IVs and IIIs at sub-county level,’ the President said.
The President had made a similar pledge during the 2016 campaigns, and local residents have repeatedly asked him to fulfill this promise. He also assured constituents that addressing gaps in education infrastructure would be a priority in his next term.
‘Our policy is to have one government primary school per parish and one secondary school per sub-county. Parishes without primary schools will get them, and sub-counties will also benefit,’ he said.
Mr Museveni is currently campaigning in Budaka and Kibuku districts, seeking a seventh term in office in the forthcoming general election. He is campaigning under the theme: ‘Protecting the Gains and Making a Qualitative Leap into High Middle-Income Status.’
He highlighted other government achievements, including wealth creation, job opportunities, service delivery, market access, unity, and political stability.
Local district leaders, including NRM district chairperson Musa Kyebene, had previously written to authorities requesting the elevation of Budaka Health Centre IV to a general hospital in line with the President’s earlier promise.
The President also emphasised the importance of wealth creation at household level, urging residents to participate in government programmes such as the Parish Development Model and Operation Wealth Creation.
‘Ever since we came into power, I have urged people to embrace poverty alleviation programmes so that the biggest enemy, poverty, can be addressed,’ he said. He cautioned government-aided schools against charging illegal fees.
‘The government introduced programmes to provide free education, but it is wrong for government-aided schools to demand illegal fees. This must stop,’ Mr Museveni said.
He also highlighted government achievements in infrastructure development, including roads, electricity, water, and railways.
He pledged to improve connectivity by working on the road linking Budaka to Butaleja districts to ease transport.
Commenting on poverty, the President said: ‘People often confuse development with wealth. It is high time Ugandans engaged in productive enterprises to improve their livelihoods.’
He added that the NRM government has brought peace through strong institutions, a foundation for continued development in the districts.