Butaleja – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni praised Butaleja District for its steady development across key sectors, noting that the area has made remarkable progress in water access, electrification, agriculture, and social services.
Addressing thousands of supporters at Booma Grounds, the NRM Presidential flag bearer said the district’s achievements reflect improved planning, commitment, and effective use of government programs.
Museveni commended the district for attaining 94% safe water coverage, with 418 out of 443 villages now accessing clean water.
He further noted that all sub-counties have been electrified, save for a few headquarters that will soon be connected. In health, he highlighted the presence of a district hospital, a Health Centre IV, and 11 Health Centre IIIs, leaving only two sub-counties pending upgrades.
The President also applauded Butaleja’s success in irrigation farming, especially in the Doho and Walala schemes, where organized water usage has boosted rice production.
“Rice under irrigation yields Sh7 million per acre before costs, and Sh5 million after. That is the productive rice—not the one in the swamp,” he emphasized.
He encouraged farmers to continue embracing the four-acre model combining coffee, fruits, livestock, food crops, poultry, piggery, and fish farming for income and food security.
While celebrating these achievements, Museveni assured residents that the government is now ready to address long-pending road works.
He announced that funds had been secured and contractors identified for the Nabumali–Butaleja–Namutumba Road and the Tororo–Nagongera–Busolwe Road. He attributed past delays to overloading the national budget and urged leaders to prioritize effectively.
Reflecting on the district’s troubled past—including cattle rustling and insurgency—he noted that stability has now enabled development to take root.
“The elders here know the instability that affected progress. But with peace, we can now do more,” he said.
The President used the event to officially hand over NRM party flags to district candidates and encouraged residents to safeguard and build on the progress already achieved.
Rt. Hon. Anitah Among, the Speaker of Parliament and NRM second vice-chairperson, thanked the President for ongoing projects such as the Budumba Bridge and requested that Butaleja be included in the livestock restocking program.
NRM District Chairperson Moses Pabire praised the strong party support in Butaleja and highlighted development gains under the NRM, including improved education infrastructure, expanded irrigation benefiting 3,500 households, and significant funding through the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga SACCOs.
