The government has committed Shs. 8.6 billion towards key development projects in Luweero District, in a renewed push to regain political support for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The pledge was made during a high-level visit by senior NRM officials under the “Buganda for Museveni” campaign, aimed at reviving the party’s influence in the Buganda region, which swung heavily to the opposition in the 2021 elections.
Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka announced that Shs. 6.1 billion has been approved for the completion of Luweero District headquarters in the upcoming 2025/2026 financial year, while an additional Shs. 2.5 billion has been allocated for a long-promised pineapple juice processing factory.
“This is part of President Museveni’s commitment to economic empowerment through initiatives like the Parish Development Model (PDM),” Kiwanuka told residents. “Growing pineapples is key in this area, and the factory will add value to your efforts.”
The NRM delegation, which included Deputy Secretary General Rose Namayanja Nsereko and Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa, faced a barrage of community grievances over poor road infrastructure, persistent power outages, incomplete public buildings, and alleged corruption in the disbursement of PDM funds.
Agnes Kirabo, the Central Region Youth MP and aspiring Woman MP for Luweero, voiced concerns about broken government promises and inefficiencies in service delivery. “We are known for growing pineapples, yet the juice factory remains a dream,” Kirabo said.
Locals accused SACCO leaders of demanding Shs. 200,000 bribes to access PDM funds and criticized politicians for failing to follow up on service delivery after elections.
In response, Kiwanuka ordered Luweero RDC Richard Bwabye Ntulume and CAO Innocent Asaba to investigate the complaints and submit a report to the government.
Minister Nankabirwa addressed the electricity issues, attributing the outages to the ongoing transition following UMEME’s exit and the replacement of outdated transformers. “Give Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited 30 days. Everything shall be well,” she said, cautioning against vandalism of electricity infrastructure.
Namayanja, however, expressed frustration with local leadership. “Some Luweero leaders have fought PDM instead of supporting it. Yet many beneficiaries have improved their livelihoods,” she said. “It’s time to choose leaders who build, not destroy.”
State Minister for Kampala Joseph Kabuye Kyofatogabye appealed to residents’ historical loyalty to the NRM. “You are the ones who brought this government to power. Now it’s your time to ensure it remains strong in 2026,” he said.
The NRM’s intensified engagement in Luweero follows a strong showing by the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) in the 2021 elections. With infrastructure pledges and a renewed grassroots campaign, the party hopes to reverse its political fortunes in a region once considered its stronghold.
