Pallisa, Uganda – President Yoweri Museveni officially launched his 2026 re-election campaign in the Bukedi sub-region with a rally in Pallisa District, vowing to end wetland misuse and drive wealth creation through targeted agricultural transformation.

Speaking to thousands of supporters, Museveni declared an immediate halt to unsustainable rice cultivation in wetlands. “We agreed that the misuse of wetlands must stop,” he said. Instead, government will convert rice growers into fish farmers by constructing standard ponds, citing success at Limoto Wetland in Pallisa as proof of concept. The initiative forms part of a broader jobs plan spanning commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT.

Museveni also pledged upgrades to health centres and schools, building on the district’s 76 government primary and nine secondary schools. He reaffirmed commitment to the Parish Development Model (PDM), insisting funds reach intended beneficiaries: 30% for youth, 30% for women, and 10% for persons with disabilities. “Anyone diverting these funds will be held accountable,” he warned, signaling zero tolerance for corruption.

The Pallisa rally marks the continuous salvo in Museveni’s nationwide campaign under the National Resistance Movement (NRM), focusing on economic inclusion, environmental protection, and governance reform in rural strongholds. With elections set for January 2026, the president is positioning job creation and anti-corruption as core pillars to secure a seventh term.