By Eye Media Uganda | December 30, 2025
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has assured residents of Nakaseke District, particularly those settled in forest reserve areas, that government will not evict them but will instead formalise their stay through long-term lease arrangements that promote wealth creation alongside environmental conservation.
Addressing a packed campaign rally at Nakaseke District headquarters in Butalangu on Tuesday, President Museveni—who was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni—said government would engage settlers occupying forest reserve land and allow them to utilise it under leases of up to 49 years, on condition that they participate in tree planting and adopt sustainable land-use practices.
“We are going to arrange to enable you to enter an agreement with the government to give you a lease on that land for something like 49 years,” President Museveni said.
“As you carry out your wealth creation activities such as commercial farming and grazing animals, you will be required to preserve that land by planting trees.”
The President clarified that while the land had originally been set aside for forest establishment, restoration could still be achieved through active participation of communities already settled there.
“If it was a traditional forest like Budongo Forest, I would have chased you,” he added, drawing laughter from the crowd as he distinguished protected natural forests from degraded reserves that can be restored through agro-forestry.
The assurance followed concerns earlier raised by the NRM Second National Vice Chairperson, Rt. Hon. Annet Anita Among, who warned that residents in forest reserves such as Kanyogoga, Kamusenene, Wakyato and parts of Ngoma trading centre were facing possible eviction by the National Forestry Authority (NFA).
She told the rally that many of the settlements had evolved into fully-fledged communities with schools, health centres, places of worship and other public amenities, making eviction socially and economically disruptive.
Nakaseke District hosts several central forest reserves, including Kapimpini and Kamusenene, which have come under pressure from human settlement, agriculture and grazing.
President Museveni, who is also the National Chairman of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the party’s presidential flag bearer for the 2026 general elections, said he was pleased to return to Bulemeezi, describing it as a historically significant and diverse region.
“This is our traditional place with people from all walks of life—Baganda, Banyankore, Lugbara and others,” he said.
Nakaseke lies at the heart of the Luwero Triangle, a key battleground during the 1981–1986 NRA bush war.
Peace and Security at the Core
Using the rally to campaign for renewal of the NRM mandate, President Museveni outlined what he described as the party’s seven major contributions to Uganda over the last four decades, placing peace and security at the top.
“Uganda was in wars for a long time, even before Europeans came. But it has now been 40 years since the NRM kept Uganda peaceful,” he said.
He noted that sustained peace had laid the foundation for development, investment and wealth creation across the country, including in previously war-ravaged areas like Nakaseke.
On infrastructure, President Museveni recalled that for a long time the Kampala–Luwero–Gulu road was the only major route serving the region. He said government has since invested in new and upgraded roads, including the Matugga–Semuto–Kapeeka road.
“We have added Kampala–Luwero–Butalangu, and we are going to expand it to Ngoma up to Masindi,” he said.
He urged voters to elect leaders who understand government priorities and can effectively lobby for development.
“Ask the Members of Parliament you will elect to listen to my message, especially on prioritisation,” he said.
The President also noted that Nakaseke previously had no electricity but now enjoys near-universal access, with plans to connect remaining unserved areas.
In education, he said the district now boasts numerous primary, secondary and technical institutions, including a teachers’ training college, compared to very few in the past.
Wealth Creation Beyond Subsistence
President Museveni cautioned residents against relying solely on social services and subsistence farming, stressing that household-level wealth creation was critical.
“NRM has been telling you from the beginning that you must also work for the pocket, not only for eating,” he said.
He cited George Matongo of Ngoma in Nakaseke, who transformed his life through commercial dairy farming.
“That man collects 900 litres of milk per day, earning Shs21 million per month and over Shs200 million a year,” the President said.
He challenged farmers with large tracts of land to adopt intensive rather than extensive farming.
“Use your land profitably by planting grass and feeding many cows in a small place,” he advised.
He also highlighted Joseph Ijara, who runs poultry and dairy farming on just 2.5 acres. Ijara keeps eight cows producing between 20 and 36 litres per day per cow and sells 600 trays of eggs monthly, earning about Shs6.8 million per month.
“What you need to understand is how to use small land and earn more. On one acre, you can put eight dairy cows and get out of poverty,” President Museveni said.
Lessons from Karamoja and Job Creation
The President cited examples from Karamoja to demonstrate that wealth creation is possible even in less developed regions. He highlighted Korea Dick Ogira of Abim District, who earned Shs12 million in his first year from mango farming under Operation Wealth Creation and the Parish Development Model.
“That man is in Abim where there is no tarmac road, but he is creating wealth,” President Museveni said. “Development may not be there, but wealth is there.”
He stressed that wealth creation leads directly to job creation, dismissing claims that government is the main source of employment.
“Government jobs are only 480,000 against a population of 50 million. Jobs are in commercial agriculture, manufacturing, artisanship, services and ICT,” he said.
He cited Johnson Basangwa of Jeka Poultry Farm in Kamuli District, who produces 2,000 trays of eggs daily and employs 300 people.
President Museveni also pointed to industrial parks such as Sino-Mbale, Namanve and nearby Kapeeka as evidence of NRM’s commitment to industrialisation and employment.
During the rally, the President acknowledged concerns including land grabbing, land use conflicts, veterans’ welfare and outdated road equipment, pledging continued engagement.
Maama Janet Museveni thanked residents for turning up in large numbers and urged them to protect NRM’s gains.
“Vote for NRM to continue working for Uganda to be an example in Africa—a country with families transforming themselves into wealth,” she said.
NRM Deputy Secretary General Hon. Rose Namayanja, Vice Chairperson for Central Region Hon. Haruna Kasolo Kyeyune, Nakaseke NRM Chairperson Hajji Mohammed Ggubya and other leaders hailed the transformation of Bulemeezi from a war zone into a thriving commercial hub.
The rally was attended by NRM Central Executive Committee members, Ministers, Members of Parliament, party flag bearers and district officials.
