President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni promises an Industrial park  in Fort Portal City During campaigns

His Excellence Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

The President of Uganda His Excellence Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has promised to set up an industrial park in the Tooro sub-region, making industrial growth a key focus of his campaign message during his visit to Fort Portal City on Saturday, where he addressed residents of Kabarole District and the city.

Speaking to a large crowd at St. Leo’s College Kyegobe Playground, the NRM presidential flagbearer revealed that government has already secured 10 square miles of land in Kyaka for the project. He said the industrial park will promote value addition, create employment and boost economic activity in the region.

The President linked the pledge to the NRM’s core pillars of peace, development, wealth creation and job creation, which he said remain central to Uganda’s national progress.

He reminded residents of the Rwenzori area that they better understand the importance of peace due to ongoing instability in neighboring DR Congo. According to Museveni, stability was achieved by rejecting sectarian politics and strengthening national institutions such as the army, police and judiciary.

On infrastructure, he pointed to significant improvements in the regional road network, noting that when the NRM took power, paved roads only reached Mityana. He credited the extension of the Mityana–Mubende–Fort Portal road and other major routes for driving socio-economic growth, and promised that road construction and upgrades would continue.

However, he raised concerns about the poor condition of some marrum roads despite government funding, saying that in some sub-counties, funds are either insufficient or poorly managed. He said government would investigate and resolve the problem.

On wealth creation, Museveni emphasized that national development does not automatically translate into personal prosperity. He encouraged residents to adopt the four-acre mixed farming model involving coffee, fruits, pasture, food crops, poultry and piggery, saying it is the most practical approach for small-scale landholders. He cited State Minister for Transport Fred Byamukama as an example of success using this model.

He also announced a revolving fund to help farmers access fertilizers to increase productivity. The President noted that Uganda’s annual coffee production has reached 9 million bags, which he said shows steady growth in both national and individual wealth.

Regarding employment, Museveni said job opportunities are increasingly coming from commercial agriculture, factories, services and ICT, sectors that will benefit further from the proposed industrial park. He urged urban youth and non-farmers to enroll in skilling programmes as a way of reducing poverty.

The Speaker of Parliament and NRM Second National Vice Chairperson, Anita Annet Among, thanked the President for granting Fort Portal city status and called on residents to support him and other NRM candidates.

Kabarole District NRM Chairperson Victoria Businge Rusoke praised the NRM for restoring peace and enabling development, pledging near-total support for President Museveni, while Fort Portal City NRM Chairperson Claire Kasande commended the government for improvements in education, health, water and electricity services.