Museveni Pledges Greater Ankole Road Upgrades, Tells Residents to Prioritize Wealth Creation

President Yoweri Museveni has committed government intervention to rehabilitate major transport corridors in the Greater Ankole region. However, he strongly cautioned local residents against using poor infrastructure as an excuse to remain trapped in poverty.

Speaking at a thanksgiving ceremony held in Sheema District for Internal Affairs Minister Ephraim Kamuntu, the President announced that the government plans to work on several critical road networks in the area. While specific timelines for the commencement of these projects were not provided, the proposed developments aim to boost connectivity across the sub-region.

Among the highlighted routes is the roughly 92-kilometer Bwizibwera–Nyakambu–Nsiika–Nyakashaka–Nyakabirizi corridor, which includes a spur heading toward Kabwohe. Additionally, plans have been earmarked for the rehabilitation of the 59-kilometer Mbarara–Ishaka highway, alongside a connecting route stretching from Kabwohe, Bugongi, Kitagata, and Kabira toward Rukungiri through Mitooma and surrounding areas.

Despite the significance of these infrastructure pledges, Museveni argued that better roads alone cannot guarantee household prosperity. He pointed out that even along long-established highways, some citizens continue to struggle financially, proving that mindset and economic activity play critical roles.

To combat this, the President urged households to actively participate in government wealth-creation initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga. He encouraged farmers to embrace commercial agriculture, adopt modern practices like irrigation, and utilize fertilizers to safeguard their livelihoods against adverse weather conditions.

Local leaders and residents continue to advocate for the timely implementation of these road works to ease the transportation of agricultural produce. Read more details in the original report on Nile Post.