Anticipation is high across the Greater Mukono sub-region as President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is scheduled to begin a three-day monitoring tour on Wednesday, June 19, 2025.
The tour will cover the districts of Mukono, Buikwe, Buvuma, and Kayunga, with the aim of assessing the progress of government programmes, especially the Parish Development Model, and understanding the impact of government investments in the region.
But in Buvuma Islands, hope is mixed with frustration as residents await the President’s arrival, desperate for attention to long-standing issues that have gone unresolved.
At the forefront of local concerns is the issue of compensation for more than 5,000 bibanja holders who surrendered their land for the BIDCO palm oil project. Years later, they have yet to receive any payment.
“Many of us gave up our land in trust, but to this day, no compensation has been given,” said Sebastian Ndugwa, a resident of Bugema village.
“Now we are being threatened with eviction under claims that we are occupying forest land belonging to the National Forestry Authority.”
Fishing remains the lifeblood of the islands’ economy, but locals argue that the Parish Development Model funding is too little to meet their operational costs.
A single fishing net costs about one million shillings, and a complete fishing boat requires close to 100 nets. The price of an outboard engine is no less than nine million shillings.
“Unless government tailors the PDM specifically for the islands, we are not going anywhere,” said Mugazi Baker, a resident of Busamuzi.
During a public dialogue held on June 4 at Kitamiiro landing site, locals openly shared grievances in the presence of Deputy Resident District Commissioner Patrick Mubiru and Ssezibwa Regional Police Commander Jaffer Magezi.
Residents raised complaints about harassment by security forces, including mistreatment at sea by the army and extortion by police officers.
Hassan Muwanga from Nambaliwe village reported that boda boda fares from Kirongo to Maggyo have doubled from the usual 2,000 shillings to 4,000 shillings.
Riders claim the increase is necessary to cover daily payments to traffic police officers.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for Buvuma, Robert Migadde, expressed concern that the President’s programme does not include a public rally in the district, which he said could prevent residents from airing their issues directly.
“Fishing is the main economic activity in the islands and the President has spoken about it many times,” Migadde said. “But we need a clear policy. Without hearing from the people, the government may miss the opportunity to understand our reality.”
He advised islanders to gather along the road at strategic points such as Kabugome and Mzee Lukoma’s residence, hoping the President might make an unscheduled stop to hear their cries.
In response to growing criticism of the Parish Development Model, Mukono Resident District Commissioner Hajat Fatuma Nabitaka Ndisaba encouraged beneficiaries to express their appreciation to the President for his commitment to poverty alleviation.
She announced that learners at Ahmed Seguya Vocational Training Centre in Kayunga, which will be launched by the President on Friday, are prepared to showcase their products.
A new SACCO has also been established to help them expand their small enterprises with access to affordable loans.
RDC Ndisaba acknowledged complaints that the one million shillings per PDM beneficiary may be insufficient.
However, she insisted that those who have used the funds wisely have made significant progress.
She added that efforts are underway to increase the amount of funding and include more beneficiaries.
The East Mengo Industrial Hub, which will support several districts in Central Uganda, is another project expected to feature during the President’s visit.
Political Undertones Ahead of 2026
The President’s visit is taking place in a region where the National Resistance Movement lost ground during the 2021 elections.
Local party leaders are viewing this tour as a chance to reset the political landscape.
Mukono District NRM Chairman Haji Harunah Semakula said the President’s visit is aimed at evaluating whether government spending has delivered results.
He promised that NRM supporters will express their remorse for the party’s loss in 2021 and show that Mukono is ready to return to the fold in the upcoming 2026 elections.
“I am new in this office and I am committed to ensuring that all past issues in the PDM programme are resolved,” Semakula said.
Mukono NRM publicist Hakim Kyeswa added that the visit is a timely opportunity to correct previous mistakes.
“As party leaders, we are determined to make a difference. That is why we are painting the town yellow,” he said.
A Critical Opportunity
As President Museveni begins his monitoring tour in Buvuma and the wider Greater Mukono region, residents are hoping he will take time to listen directly to their struggles and expectations.
For many, this visit represents not only a chance to showcase development progress, but also a critical moment to ask the country’s top leader to intervene where local solutions have fallen short.
Whether the concerns raised on the islands and in surrounding districts will translate into meaningful action remains to be seen.
What is clear is that the people of Buvuma and the entire sub-region are watching closely and waiting for results.
English 