KASESE– President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has concluded the assessment of the Parish Development Model (PDM) in the Rwenzori Sub-region with a public rally in Kasese Municipality where he urged the people to take ownership of the PDM funds and utilise it maximumly.
While addressing the mammoth crowds in Kasese Municipality, President Museveni made it categorically clear that the Parish Development Model funds belongs to them and should be closely monitored to ensure that it truly transforms their lives.
“The government will continue to put more money into the PDM program each year to support economic transformation at the parish level,” the President said.
President Museveni who continues with the assessment tour of the Tooro Sub-region today May 15th, thanked the people of Rwenzori Sub-region who have embraced the Parish Development Model program and have improved their household incomes.
Before addressing the mega rally in Kasese Municipality, President Museveni commissioned a series of completed road infrastructure projects worth Ugx 53 billion which have been constructed under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) program.
The President pointed out that the NRM has always followed a clear sequence when it comes to development and they start with what matters most and therefore such developments demonstrate that the NRM government is not about empty promises, because it does what it says and say what what it means.
“Our problem has never been ideas. It is the lack of prioritisation; The Bible says, ‘Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all other things shall be added unto you.’ You want to do everything at once, but that’s not how transformation works,” the President emphasized.
The commissioned roads which include Rwenzori Road, Bus Circular Road, 3rd Street, Kitalikubi Road, Park Rise, Stanley Road, Margarita Road, Rukidi III-Port Circular, Crescent Road, Mandela Road, Total Road, Mboghoyabo and Lincoln Road, mark a significant boost to Kasese’s urban transformation and transport efficiency.
Kasese Municipality has in addition to the roads benefitted from complementary infrastructure designed to support a modern and resilient urban environment which include upgraded drainage systems, green spaces to enhance climate resilience, a solid waste management system complete with a garbage truck, trained municipal staff and infrastructure committees linking communities directly to government efforts.
He also noted that the foundation of Uganda’s development was laid through a deliberate focus on security.
“When we took over, even soldiers lived in grass-thatched huts. But we prioritized building the army and equipping it. A soldier in a grass-thatched house can still protect you if he has a gun,” the President explained.
The President cautioned leaders both political and religious against seeking cheap popularity by promising to do everything at once which is not possible and reaffirmed the NRM’s development philosophy saying that scurity will always be first and then infrastructure like then roads and transport, then electricity for the private sector and education for children and others.
President Museveni concluded with a powerful call for unity and discipline among leaders and communities and asked them to stop working in fragments, byt assured that one by one makes a bundle, but with discipline and prioritization shall continue to transform Uganda.
While speaking at the same event, the Minister of Lands Housing and Urban Development, HonJudith Nabakooba, applauded the transformative impact of the funded infrastructure projects in Kasese Municipality and called it a symbol of progress and a model for urban development.
The Minister noted that Kasese Municipality joined the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructural Development program with ambition and has since emerged as one of the top-performing urban centers in Uganda saying that the investments have not only improved road networks but have also ushered in a wave of modern amenities and economic opportunities.
“These projects go far beyond roads. Kasese now boasts proper drainage systems, green spaces that enhance climate resilience, a comprehensive solid waste management strategy including a modern garbage truck, trained and empowered municipal staff, Infrastructure committees that strengthen community-government engagement,” Minister Nabakooba said.
Hon Nabakooba also pointed out the tangible economic results already visible in Kasese Municipality saying that before the Infrastructural development, local revenue was at just Ugx 399 million, but today, it stands at Ugx 1.4 billion, with the potential to triple through digitized systems which is a clear indicator that infrastructure investment leads directly to economic empowerment.
The Minister also pointed to improved street lighting and enhanced security, which have given rise to a vibrant night economy, giving an example of Lincoln and Stanley Road which were once in a terrible state, but today they have vibrant business activity even at night due to the infrastructure that unlocked growth and transformed livelihoods.
The Minister commended Kasese for emerging as a top performer at the recent National Urban Conference and urged residents to use the new infrastructure wisely.
She added that over 70 kilometers of roads have been upgraded, the Municipality has secured modern council offices, and traffic mobility has improved with the installation of traffic lights. She said these changes have strengthened public service delivery and fostered safer, more dynamic urban spaces.
The Mayor of Kasese Municipality, Chance Muhindo, praised the successful implementation of road infrastructure, describing it as a symbol of accountability, urban progress, and government commitment to local development.
“It is my honour and privilege to welcome Your Excellency to Kasese for the commissioning of these transformative road projects. This investment is a reflection of the government’s trust in our municipality and our shared vision of a modern, well-planned town,” Muhindo said.
He explained that Kasese Municipality covers key Divisions that include Central Division and Nyamwamba, which have directly benefited from the upgraded road networks saying that Kasese has been recognized nationally for its efficient use of USMID funds.
“During the recent USMID assessment exercise, Kasese was ranked among the best-performing municipalities in terms of saving public funds and applying them effectively,” Mayor Muhindo stated.
The functions were also attended by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Thomas Tayebwa, the Minister of ICT and National Guidance Hon DrChrisBaryomunsi, Hon. Alice Kaboyo, the Minister of State in charge of Luwero Triangle and Rwenzori Region Hon Alice Kaboyo and the Minister of State for the Youth and Children Affairs, Hon Dr Balaam Barugahara, religious and cultural leaders among others.
