President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Thursday, 13th November 2025, swept through Budaka and Kibuku districts in Bukedi district with a fiery message of accountability, accelerated development, and renewed commitment to wealth creation.

In Budaka District, Museveni did not mince words as he ordered leaders to fast-track stalled infrastructural projects, particularly the Budaka–Tirinyi–Pallisa road upgrades, lingering parish development bottlenecks and the sluggish implementation of the Emyooga and PDM programs.

He directed RDCs, CAOs, and sub county chiefs to wake up or be replaced, accusing some local officials of sabotaging government anti-poverty initiatives through negligence and bribery.

“We have put money in your hands for development. The problem now is not NRM policies, it is thieves within the system,” he charged, triggering applause and murmurs of approval from residents who have long complained about corrupt officials mismanaging public funds.

Despite the stern warnings, Museveni outlined substantial gains in Budaka and Kibuku districts pointing to improved school enrollment, the expansion of rural electrification, an ongoing health centre upgrade program, and increased security stability.

He emphasized that the next five years would focus on expanding irrigation across Bugwere, modernizing agriculture, and enhancing youth skills programs aimed at job creation.

Crossing into Kibuku District, Museveni maintained the same hard-hitting tone, faulting certain leaders for slow project supervision and misuse of government grants.

His directive targeting land fraud, a growing crisis in the region was particularly well received.

He ordered a district-level land verification committee to be established immediately, with instructions to probe illegal title acquisition and protect vulnerable families from eviction.

Residents in Kibuku turned up in large numbers, many lining the roads as the presidential convoy snaked through trading centres.

While they praised ongoing government achievements such as the rehabilitation of the Nankoma Health Centre IV, improved security, and ongoing road expansions, they also demanded faster agricultural support and stronger action against corrupt technocrats.

Museveni promised that Kibuku would soon benefit from new roads linking key farming zones, a programme to mechanize agriculture for cassava and rice growers, and increased PDM capitalization in poorly performing SACCOs.

He also revealed plans for a district industrial hub targeting agro-processing, a move that he said would end the era of selling raw produce cheaply.

The crowds welcomed new directives with relief, seeing them as long-overdue steps to unlock stalled progress.

On Friday, President Museveni will campaign in Butaleja and Tororo districts and later address a media briefing at Mbale State Lodge in Mbale City.