The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate, Yoweri Museveni, has tasked leaders in Rubanda District to urgently secure 150 acres of land to facilitate the construction of an industrial hub that will create employment opportunities for Ugandans.
Addressing a campaign rally at Kabirizi playground in Rubanda Town Council, where hundreds of NRM supporters had gathered, President Museveni stressed that the proposed industrial hub for the Kigezi Sub-region would be a key pillar in the country’s industrialisation and job-creation agenda.
“We need a big piece of land in the Kigezi Sub-region so that we construct an industrial hub. I want 150 acres now, now! Where are they? I don’t want empty promises. Who knows where the 150 acres are?” he asked, adding that if it required him to buy the land personally, he was ready to do so to fast-track the project.
Mr Museveni’s directive was in response to a request by Rubanda District NRM Chairman and Minister of Finance (General Duties), Mr Henry Musasizi, who appealed to the President to consider establishing an iron ore-based industrial project in the Kigezi Sub-region. Mr Musasizi noted that Rubanda District, which is rich in iron ore deposits, lacked an industrial park to add value to its mineral resources and create jobs.
“Your Excellency, in Rubanda District we don’t have an industrial park. Where we are standing, the land belongs to farmers, but they believe that if the government can compensate them and they vacate the land, we can lobby for an industrial park so that it can attract investors to create employment opportunities for our Ugandans,” Mr Musasizi said.
Mr Musasizi also referenced the President’s recent commissioning of the USD 500 million Devki Mega Steel Plant in Tororo District, saying Rubanda hoped to benefit from similar investments. He reminded the President that during the Tororo event, he had emphasized giving employment priority to Rubanda, where much of the iron ore is mined.
In his response, President Museveni revealed that he had already reached an agreement with Kenyan industrialist Dr Narendra Raval (Guru) of the Devki Group to establish another major iron ore project in Kabale. He said the planned project would create more than 16,000 jobs and expand industrial opportunities across the country.
“I will explain more during the press conference at the end of my campaigns in Kigezi why we decided to build the steel plant in Tororo. “But the most important thing is that I agreed with the industrialist to build another iron ore project in Kigezi. However, I want 150 acres of land,” said Mr Museveni, who seeks to extend his rule beyond four decades in the 2026 General Election.
Mr Musasizi informed the President that the district could only readily provide 52 acres of land, but Mr Museveni insisted that the project required a larger area.
“Look for me 150 acres of land. If you fail here, try in Kabale. I have given the first choice to Rubanda. I will explain more during the press conference about the benefits of this factory,” Mr Museveni insisted.
President Museveni also used the rally to highlight the broader NRM agenda for 2026–2031, describing it as a continuation of the journey of peace, development and prosperity.
He said that as he travelled from Kisoro to Rubanda, he reflected on the value of peace, especially for border communities.
“Our people in Kisoro know this well because they neighbour the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country that has suffered wars for many years,” Museveni noted. “Here in Uganda, we defeated Kony and other rebel groups and secured peace, and we must protect it.”
He cited the Kabale–Kisoro road as a key achievement and mentioned ongoing or planned strategic roads, including Kisoro–Nkuringo, Katuna–Muko–Kamuganguzi, Hamurwa–Kanungu–Buhoma, and the Kabale–Bunyonyi–Kisoro–Mgahinga route, for which he said funding had already been secured.
“Rubanda should know that NRM’s plan is clear and continuing. Let us protect the gains and move forward together,” the president said.