President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s latest campaign sweep through Kumi and Ngora districts has ignited a powerful wave of political momentum in Teso, firmly positioning development delivery at the centre of the 2026 race.

In rallies that overwhelmed Wiggins Grounds in Kumi and Ngora Boys Primary School on Tuesday, 4th October 2025, Museveni shifted from traditional campaign speeches to executive directives, unveiling an aggressive plan to revive Soroti Fruit Factory, enforce free education in government schools, and accelerate household wealth creation through national financing schemes like the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga.

“We delivered peace, now we must convert that peace into wealth,” Museveni told supporters, commanding applause from thousands who braved the scorching heat for hours.

Teso’s fruit economy once hailed as a future citrus powerhouse stalled due to limited supply and managerial hiccups.

Museveni’s directive to fully revive and capitalize Soroti Fruit Factory marks a strategic economic shift aimed at turning households into commercial producers.

“Grow fruits. We shall buy everything. Soroti Fruit Factory must work at full capacity not half.”

The President urged district leaders to mobilize for mass fruit cultivation, particularly oranges, mangoes and pineapples, positioning the factory as the engine of regional industrialization.

Economists view this as a strong political statement: Museveni is tying voter expectations directly to visible economic outcomes.

Government statistics presented during the rally by President Museveni show that Shs 42.9 billion under PDM has reached 48,102 households (82%) in Kumi district while Shs 2.29 billion has been disbursed to 54 Emyooga SACCOs across the three constituencies and 228 families have received Shs 4.4 billion in cattle compensation.

“This money is not for eating. It is for turning your family into a business unit,” he said.

The President’s tone was sharp and instructional signalling pressure on local leaders to convert government financing into measurable household income.

Museveni’s most emotional moment came when he blasted school heads still charging fees in government schools.

“Stop charging children. Education in government schools must be completely free,” he emphasized.

According to the district fact sheets, Kumi District and Municipality have 96 government primary schools and 10 secondary schools, and multiple health centres in both Kumi and Ngora have been upgraded from HCII to HCIII, with new secondary schools planned under the UgIFT and USEEP programs to ensure one sub–county one secondary school.

By tying education directly to wealth creation, Museveni sharpened his campaign narrative to free education, skilled youth, and poverty elimination.

Kumi–Ngora Infrastructure Package: Roads, Water, Power

Museveni’s obsession now is getting money into pockets, not merely tarmacking roads.

In Ngora, Museveni delivered a blistering attack on vote-buying.

“Someone gives you 2,000 shillings and you vote them for five years. What can 2,000 shillings do? That is an insult. The crowd erupted chanting his 2026 slogan, protect our gains.

Museveni is expected to conclude his campaign activities in Teso on Wednesday and proceed to Bugisu sub region where he will address a huge rally in Sironko in the afternoon.