MBARARA CITY - President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has pledged to establish an industrial park in Mbarara and expand the Presidential Skilling Hubs as part of a broader strategy to create jobs, raise household incomes, and consolidate the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) development agenda ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Addressing thousands of enthusiastic supporters at Boma Grounds in Mbarara City, Museveni—accompanied by First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni—outlined the NRM’s longstanding contributions to Uganda and assured residents that more development projects are on the way.
He emphasized that an industrial park in Mbarara will attract factories, which he described as key drivers of employment and economic transformation. He also revealed plans to expand the skilling hubs by introducing more technical courses, including engineering and plumbing, to empower young people with practical skills that can generate wealth even for those without land.
During the rally, the President rallied voters from both Mbarara City and Mbarara District to support NRM flagbearers in the 2026 elections, stressing that the party has consistently delivered on its promises.
He highlighted the NRM's first major achievement: restoring peace across Uganda. Recalling the instability of the 1970s and 1980s, he credited the NRM’s rejection of sectarianism for enabling the creation of strong, stable institutions such as the army, police, and judiciary.
Museveni also pointed to major improvements in economic and social infrastructure, citing progress in the national road network and expanded electricity coverage “almost everywhere.”
He announced the planned construction of the Biharwe–Bwizibwera road and reiterated that physical infrastructure alone is not enough without deliberate efforts to increase household income. To illustrate this, he referenced George Matongo, a dairy farmer in Ngoma, who earns Shs21 million per month despite living far from paved roads and electricity.
The President once again encouraged families with small pieces of land to adopt the four-acre model—coffee, fruits, pasture for zero-grazing, and food crops—with backyard enterprises like poultry or piggery. For urban residents, he said the growing network of skilling centres is a pathway into the money economy, offering trades such as hairdressing, tailoring, welding, bakery, and brickmaking.
He stressed that 30% of Ugandans are still outside the money economy, and bringing this group into income-generating activities remains a top NRM priority. Job creation, he said, will continue to come from commercial agriculture, factories, ICT, and service sectors.
First Lady Maama Janet Museveni praised the people of Mbarara for their unity and overwhelming support for the ruling party, urging them to intensify grassroots mobilisation and aim for a 99.9% vote for NRM in 2026. She reminded supporters that large crowds at rallies signal strong backing, but electoral victory still requires active voter mobilisation.
NRM leaders from the district and city also commended the President for initiatives such as the Parish Development Model and improved road networks. Mbarara City NRM Chairperson Wilson Tumwine thanked President Museveni for approving the upgrade of Nyakisharara Airfield into an international airport and requested the construction of a modern stadium to nurture sports talent.
Through the pledges of an industrial park, expanded skilling programmes, and continued infrastructure investment, President Museveni urged the people of Mbarara to maintain their support for the NRM, arguing that the party has already demonstrated its capability to deliver peace, development, wealth creation, and jobs for Ugandans.