President Museveni has commissioned roads in Kabale Municipality, constructed under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development Addition Funding Program (USMID-AF), implemented by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development (MLHUD).
Speaking at an event held at Kabale Catholic Diocese, Rushoroza Village in Kabale District Museveni applauded Nabakooba, and her staff for utilising USMID funds to create avenues that foster socio-economic development in the beneficiaries’ communities.
“Use these infrastructures to unleash opportunities and grow your household incomes. The NRM government has taught you how to operationalize something small to create bigger opportunities,” he called on the people of Kabale.
“We started with peace in the country. After security, we go to health, immunize people, ensure hygiene, nutrition, self-livelihood, and abstain from alcohol to protect your body,” he noted.
He applauded religious leaders for promoting livelihood programs. The President derived this point from comparing the past and present church leaders. Initially, people used to rely on the word of God only, which he noted was misleading.
“I once disagreed with the Church because they were sort of going in the wrong way. There is where the bible says that birds in the sky do not plant or harvest but God provides for them. So they said, since God provides for birds in the sky He will also provide for us. But I said I am not a bird in the sky,” he stressed, calling upon the public to work hard for the good of their families.
“We need to work. Now I see churches and Mosques are talking about wealth creation which is good. We know that even Jesus worked, when He fed 5000 people and He worked with His hands,” he emphasised.
According to the President, government livelihood funds such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga need hard working people to realise their potential of alleviating poverty.
“During every budget of the year, we put Shs2 trillion for poor people. And with the PDM funds, everyone is benefiting because it reaches every parish, rendering no excuse that it has not reached people.”
Lands minister Judith Nabakooba lauded the President for his support for the USMID project since it was first introduced in 2013 and has transformed cities and urban centers. She noted that it has enhanced infrastructure development and created employment opportunities for Ugandans as well as increased revenue collection.
In Kabale District, where the project was introduced in 2019, they have been able to increase revenue collection from Shs800 million collected in 2018/2019 financial year to Shs1.9 billion in 2023/2024.
“Good road networks and street lighting have improved the night economy. This is an opportunity for the government because the more businesses grow, the more revenue we collect,” she said.
The minister also appreciated president Museveni for giving an opportunity to local contractors, noting that all projects in Kabale, Ntungamo and Mbabara were given to local contractors who delivered quality work.
Ms Nabakooba announced a successor program called Support to Cities and Municipalities which is yet to be unveiled, noting that the proposal is before cabinet and once approved, starting next financial year (2025/2026), it will start operating.
“With this program, we shall maintain the local areas in which we are operating but we shall also add more cities and municipalities which have not been benefiting,” she noted.
Religious leaders represented by Rt. Rev Callist Rubaramira, the Bishop of Kabale Catholic Diocese, thanked the president for introducing the USMID program.
He said Rushoroza Road alone has seen enhanced development in the area, underscoring its great contribution to the immense infrastructural development.
“It looks like a small road but to me and others who see it, it is a great demonstration of your immense contribution to the infrastructure development and the other services for the good of our beloved country.”
He expressed commitment to continue supporting the government in the implementation of its programs aimed at ensuring the socio-economic transformation of the people in the Kigezi Sub-region.
The Bishop thanked President Museveni for the support he gives to the church of through the Annual Appeal Funds. He revealed that these funds have improved lives in the Diocese and enhanced revenue collection.
“We used part of the money to start up St Ignatius University and we gave the institution 10 acres of land which we believe will be used to create job opportunities for locals,” he said.
Bishop Rubaramira noted that his diocese has a number of programs that are in line with the National Resisted Movement (NRM) manifesto of socio-economic transformation. These, he said, include the Caritas program that has since introduced credit schemes that are given to local communities at low rates.
“I commit myself to mobilizing communities to embrace development by starting up income-generating projects.”
After commissioning roads, the President proceeded to Rukiga District for a general rally where he encouraged locals to embrace poverty alleviation programs.
*About USIMD-AF project in Kabale
The multi-billion national USMID_AF project has been managed by Eng. Dr. Isaac Mutenyo who is has been highly praised for its successful implementation of over the years .
Kabale received funding under the USMID-AF program for the construction of a cross-section of civil works projects under three separate contracts. The projects cost Shs21.7 billion.
Between 2019-2024, contractors worked on Bwankotsya (0.76 km), Bushekirwe (0.34km), and Rushoroza roads (2.49km).
These roads were contracted to local contractors, Multiplex, Ditaco International Trade Contracting, supervised by MBJ Consults.
In a separate contract, the lands ministry contracted Kenfileds Services Limited to construct stormwater drainage systems at Mwanjari Business Centre, Mukombe Road, and along Katuna highway to the tune of Shs2 billion.
The government also paid Geses Uganda Ltd Shs1.9 billion to install 200 solar-powered street lights along 12 roads in Kabale Municipality.
This is part of the broader funding of $360 million by the government of Uganda through the World Bank (WB) to 33 local governments across the country to enhance infrastructure development. These were 10 new cities, 12 municipalities, and 11 refugee-hosting communities.
These funds have rehabilitated roads in those areas, and worked on drainage systems, cyclist parks, passenger parks, markets, and resource centres. This in turn enhanced the capacity of technical persons in those localities.
