Agness Nandutu

Fellow Ugandans, especially the Bazzukulu, good morning. Today, we conclude our campaign with the final rally at Kololo, carrying the NRM message of unity, stability, and progress. Join us as we protect the gains together.

A team from Mbale Industrial Park, led by Ms Lucy Zhang, visited Maama Janet and I at Rwakitura this evening. They updated us on the park's progress and expressed their intention to establish another industrial park. I welcome their plan and assured them of our support.

The oil resource is bringing many opportunities to Bunyoro and the host districts like Buliisa. However, we must ensure our people do not fall into the misfortune of living near opportunity without benefiting from it. The roads for oil and tourism are important, but the real benefit comes from work and enterprise through PDM, Emyooga, OWC, GROW and the direct jobs created. I reminded the people that the richest oil countries are not the richest nations. They prosper because they invest their revenues wisely. Uganda will also gain from oil, but we must have a proper plan that benefits both the country and the local people. This is why it is important to listen to the NRM message on wealth creation and household income.

In Hoima City, I presented the NRM Manifesto on behalf of the NRM leaders and cautioned our people not to be confused about oil money. Oil must be used for long-term projects if it is to benefit Uganda. We have confirmed 6.5 billion barrels in Lake Albert and are still exploring, but this resource will last only about 20 years. If we misuse it on short-term demands like salaries, we shall end up like some countries that had oil and became poor again. I reminded the people that many wealthy nations have no oil at all; they used knowledge. Oil should help us speed up durable projects that remain long after the resource is gone. Bunyoro is right to ask for an industrial park. Kabalega Industrial Park handles petroleum products, so we shall construct an additional one for food production because the two cannot be in the same place.

Together with the NRM leaders, I began my campaign in the Rwenzori Sub-region, starting in Kasese District. I was pleased to find peace and continued development in the area. We are committed to further transforming Rwenzori. We have begun repairing the old railway line from Malaba and here we shall construct a new Standard Gauge Railway. We are also going to build an international airport to support tourism and open up the Rwenzori corridor. I re-echoed the seven contributions the NRM has made to Uganda over the last 40 years and emphasized the importance of prioritisation. Some leaders want to touch everything at once, but prioritisation is how we built key roads in Kasese and across Uganda. It is true Kasese needs more road machinery, and we shall add it. On electricity, every district now has power except Buvuma Island, and we are taking electricity to every sub-county. Mwasinje Kutsibu.

After Kasese, I went to Bunyangabu with the NRM leadership for my second rally. I reminded our people of the peace Uganda has enjoyed for the last 40 years. I thank God that a child can be born, grow, study, marry and raise a family in a peaceful country. This is one of the greatest fruits of the NRM struggle. We see development everywhere: roads, electricity, water, telephones, railway and internet. The delay on the Mityana–Mubende–Fort Portal road came from scattered resources, but our young cadres now understand prioritisation and the road will be completed. I am also pleased that Bunyangabu alone has eight government secondary schools; in 1961 Uganda had only six A’level schools. This shows how far we have come. Mwebale munno Aba Bunyangabu.

Fellow Ugandans, especially the Bazzukulu, I will address the nation in a LIVE broadcast tomorrow, Thursday, September 7, 2023, at 8pm on security and other issues of national importance.