A Historic Encounter and the Vision for Development
President Yoweri Museveni recently shared a compelling story from his past during a rally at Bugobero High School. He recounted an incident that took place on January 22, 1973, when he was nearly killed by Idi Amin’s soldiers. At the time, he was in Mbale town with other FRONAS rebels meeting at Jack Maumbe Mukhwana’s home.
Museveni described how Amin’s forces surrounded the house and forced him to flee. “I jumped over the fence and started running in Malukhu housing estate,” he said. During this escape, he encountered Charles Walimbwa Peke, the current NRM chairperson for Manafwa, who was then a young boy. “When they saw me running, they thought I was a chicken thief and wanted to intercept me. Amin’s soldiers were chasing me and firing. Danger came from Walimbwa and his group who didn’t know I had a gun.”
Museveni recalled that he faced two dangers: the soldiers behind him and Walimbwa’s group. In a moment of desperation, he stopped and fired at the soldiers, causing them to run away. “Unfortunately, two of my colleagues were killed there. I remembered (this incident) when I saw Walimbwa here,” he added.
Campaigns and the Path to Peace
Using this story as a starting point, Museveni emphasized the challenges of the past. He noted that when NRM captured power, it brought about peace, which has been rare in Uganda for over 500 years. “Uganda is now for the first time in over 500 years, peaceful,” he said.
The president highlighted the development initiatives undertaken by the government, including infrastructure projects such as roads, railways, electricity, and piped water, specifically in Manafwa district. He mentioned several road projects currently under construction or procurement, including the Nabumali-Butaleja up to Namutumba (90km), Bubulo-Bududa circular road (28km), and Mbale-Nkonjeru (20km).
He also spoke about the progress in electrification, noting that while some sub-counties have access to electricity, many others still lack it. These include Bunyinza, Bunabwana, Busukuya, Butiru, Buta, and Bukhadala. “We know where exactly electricity is and where it is not. Those that are not yet connected will get,” he assured.
Health Infrastructure and Community Development
On the topic of health centers, Museveni acknowledged that significant work remains to be done. Out of the 32 sub-counties in Manafwa, only two have health centre IVs, and four have health centre IIIs, with 26 lacking any health facility. He outlined plans to upgrade the Ikaali health centre II to a health centre III in Bukhofu sub-county and construct new health centre IIIs in several other sub-counties.
Museveni also emphasized the importance of community-driven development programs. He mentioned the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga initiatives, which aim to help households create wealth. To date, Manafwa’s 157 parishes have received Shs47.8 billion in PDM funds, benefiting 47,995 households. Additionally, 36 saccos with 20,062 members have received Shs1.5 billion through the Emyooga program.
A Call to Action
Despite the progress made, the president reminded the population of their responsibility to overcome poverty. He encouraged citizens to actively participate in these development efforts. “”
Museveni’s message underscored the importance of unity, perseverance, and collective effort in building a better future for Uganda. His story from the past serves as a reminder of the struggles endured and the progress achieved, reinforcing the need for continued dedication to national development.