As the political climate intensifies ahead of the 2026 general elections, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flagbearer, has shifted his campaign focus to the critical swing region of Western Uganda, delivering a message built on the twin pillars of security and industrialisation.
During recent rallies in Kyegegwa and Kamwenge, the President made two distinct but deeply interlinked pledges: the establishment of a major industrial park in Kyegegwa District and the immediate deployment and construction of a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) permanent battalion barracks near Kamwenge to decisively counter the residual threat posed by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels. These commitments underscore the NRM’s strategy of fusing peace consolidation with economic transformation in regions historically vulnerable to instability.
An Anchor in Kyegegwa
The most significant economic pledge of the recent campaign swing was the confirmation that Kyegegwa, specifically within the vicinity of the Kyaka Refugee Settlement, would host a major industrial park. The President announced that the government has already secured a massive 10 square miles of land from the Kyaka I and Kyaka II settlements, dedicating five square miles for the industrial park and another five for large-scale, commercial farming and processing—notably for avocados.
This initiative is presented as the NRM’s flagship solution to job creation and household income growth in the Tooro sub-region.
“Factories remain a major source of jobs—currently employing 1.3 million Ugandans—and will help lift more households into the money economy,” President Museveni remarked at a rally in Wekomire Parish, Kyegegwa.
The choice of Kyegegwa is strategic. By leveraging land near the long-established refugee settlements, the project promises to integrate the local and refugee-hosting communities into the national economy. The industrial park is intended to focus heavily on agro-processing, targeting cash crops like coffee, fruits, and dairy products that thrive in the region. The specific mention of an avocado processing plant aligns with the government’s push for value addition, shifting Uganda away from merely exporting raw commodities.
The President used the announcement to re-emphasise his broader economic philosophy, citing successful industrial hubs like Mbale (12,000 jobs on one square mile) and Namanve (44,000 jobs), arguing that industrial parks are the most effective means of absorbing the country’s growing number of educated but unemployed youth. Furthermore, he used the platform to warn against mismanagement of wealth creation programs, particularly the Parish Development Model (PDM), insisting that every beneficiary must receive the full allocated amount.
Countering the ADF Shadow
The second major pledge, delivered during a rally in Kamwenge District, addressed the palpable need for heightened security following deadly incursions by the ADF rebels originating from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Kamwenge, particularly areas bordering the vast Kibale National Park, has been a frontline community, suffering tragic attacks as recently as December 2023. Local leaders, including Kamwenge NRM District Chairperson Frank Tumwebaze, formally requested a permanent military presence to reassure citizens living in constant fear.
President Museveni swiftly approved the request, instructing district leaders to immediately identify suitable land—away from environmentally sensitive areas like wetlands—for the establishment of a permanent UPDF battalion and barracks.
“Tumwebaze has brought a good proposal. We shall place a battalion near Kibale National Park. Look for a good piece of land—not in a wetland or flood-prone area—and we shall build a permanent army barracks,” the President stated.
The deployment of a dedicated UPDF battalion represents a decisive tactical move aimed at consolidating the peace that the NRM prides itself on having delivered. It shifts the military posture in the area from reactive security operations to a permanent deterrent, creating a buffer zone between vulnerable communities and the vast, forested border areas used by the insurgents.
This strategic deployment is a direct response to the NRM’s fundamental campaign message, which consistently places “Peace and Security” as the first and most vital contribution of the regime since 1986. By directly linking the security solution (UPDF barracks) to economic growth (industrial park), the President reinforces the NRM’s core narrative: sustained development is impossible without absolute stability.
Linking Infrastructure and Wealth
The pledges in Kyegegwa and Kamwenge were delivered within the NRM’s standard campaign framework, which systematically blends promises for the future with a recounting of past achievements.
Infrastructure as the Foundation: Museveni consistently reminded residents that when the NRM took power, the tarmac road network ended at Mityana. He pointed to the completed and ongoing major projects—such as the Lyantonde–Kazo–Ibanda–Kamwenge–Fort Portal network—as proof of the government’s commitment to creating the necessary physical foundation for economic activity. The pledge to construct the Kazo–Kabogore–Kyegegwa–Kapuyo road is a direct extension of this long-term strategy.
The Four-Acre Model: Complementing the large-scale industrial park, the President strongly urged local residents—particularly those with small landholdings—to adopt the Four-Acre Model of commercial farming. This model promotes intensive, high-value enterprises such as coffee, fruits, dairy cattle, poultry, and piggery on small plots of land, arguing that subsistence farming is incompatible with modern household prosperity.
By focusing simultaneously on macro-industrial policy (the park) and micro-enterprise development (the four-acre model and PDM), the NRM attempts to address unemployment and poverty at every level of the economy.
Political Significance
The campaign swing through the Tooro sub-region highlights the NRM’s focus on solidifying support in its traditional strongholds while demonstrating responsiveness to local needs. The pledges for an industrial park and a UPDF barracks were not unsolicited; they were direct responses to requests presented by local NRM leaders. This interaction showcases the NRM’s bottom-up feedback mechanism, where local political capital (the requests) is exchanged for high-impact development projects (the pledges), effectively mobilizing grassroots support for the incumbent and his party flag bearers in the forthcoming elections.
In conclusion, President Museveni’s campaign pledges in Western Uganda are a carefully crafted demonstration of the NRM’s dual mandate. The promise of the Kyegegwa Industrial Park signals a commitment to industrial-led job creation, while the establishment of the UPDF barracks in Kamwenge provides a tangible assurance of security against the enduring threat of the ADF. Together, these moves serve to reinforce the NRM’s central campaign theme: peace is the precursor to prosperity, and the ruling party is the only guarantor of both.
