Leaders and residents of Kamwenge District on Monday lauded President Yoweri Museveni for restoring lasting peace and improving livelihoods in the region, crediting him for decisively crushing the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels who once destabilized communities along the forested borderlines.
Agriculture Minister and Kamwenge District NRM Chairperson, Frank Tumwebaze, said the district’s current stability is a direct result of the President’s swift military response when ADF fighters attempted to infiltrate the area years ago.
“I would like to thank the President for defeating the ADF rebels,” Tumwebaze said. “When the rebels attacked us, he quickly deployed soldiers, and within hours they had dismantled and neutralized the threat.”
Tumwebaze added that the President’s firm stance against sectarian politics had enabled communities particularly the Batooro and local settlers to live and work together in unity.
He further commended Museveni for spearheading socioeconomic transformation through commercial agriculture, the Parish Development Model (PDM), and major infrastructure projects. Kamwenge, he revealed, has so far received Shs 21 billion under PDM, benefitting at least 18,000 households who are now engaged in income-generating activities such as dairy farming.
“People are becoming wealthier. Many are now selling large quantities of milk to improve household incomes,” he noted. He also confirmed that more than 70% of the Kamwenge–Kihuura road—a long-awaited project—has been completed.
Tumwebaze asked the President to establish a permanent military base along the forest line to block any future rebel incursions.
New Military Battalion
Addressing crowds in Kamwenge Town Council, President Museveni reassured residents that peace remains the NRM government’s greatest achievement, particularly for border districts vulnerable to unrest spilling over from neighboring countries.
“You have seen what happens in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Museveni noted. “Because of that instability, many refugees are camped here, they have no peace in their own country. The people of Kamwenge know very well the value of peace.”
In response to Tumwebaze’s request, Museveni agreed to have a battalion stationed near Kibale National Park and instructed district leaders to identify land for the facility.
The President also reaffirmed commitments to improving the Lyantonde–Ibanda–Kamwenge road and finalizing the Kihuura access road.
On wealth creation, Museveni encouraged residents to embrace irrigation and commercial farming, citing the success of the Presidential Banana Initiative in Bushenyi where irrigated plantations yield up to ten times more than rain-fed ones.
“Don’t work only for the stomach,” he advised. “Work for both the stomach and the pocket.”
He warned youth against overreliance on government jobs, noting that the private sector especially in industrial parks and tourism offers far greater opportunities.
Museveni pointed to Mbale Industrial Park, which now employs more than 40,000 workers, compared to only 480,000 positions available in the entire public service.
He encouraged Kamwenge to capitalize on the tourism potential of Kibale Forest, which he said could provide hundreds of jobs.
Museveni concluded by reminding residents that he too is a commercial farmer. “I produce milk, beef and bananas. That is my wealth and I also employ people,” he said.
