Rukungiri- The 2026 general elections marked the beginning of a new error in the political leadership of Rukungiri district both at the lower local (Sub- county), Local (District) and at national (parliament) levels.
For the first time in the history of the district which is well known as the genesis of opposition being the home of the four time presidential candidate Dr Kiiza Besigye , the people of Rukungiri district this time around voted out opposition at national level and a few opposition individuals at district and sub- county levels.
Previously, the people of Rukungiri district would choose their members of parliament from both opposition and ruling party but this time they only voted Mps from the ruling party (NRM). It should be remembered that the district has 3 constituencies that is Rujumbura, Rubabo and Rukungiri municipality which were all taken by NRM Party and even the district woman mp seat was taken by Ruling party also.
The NRM party also won Rukungiri municipal Mayoral seat for the first time since the creation of municipal council in 2010 and out of 20 municipal councilors, NRM won 14 while PFF party (Opposition) won 6 seats.
At the district level, the NRm party won the district chairmanship seat and
27 councillors, PFF party 5 seats while in the lower local government elections, NRM won 14 seats, PFF took 2 while independents won 1 seat for both sub- county Division chairpersons and town councils.
Despite this massive and landslide victory of the NRM party in the district, here is a list of challenges which awaits the newly elected leaders when they take office in a few months to come.
Unemployment most especially among the youth.
The increasing unemployment rate most especially among the youth in the district is one of the challenges that is awaiting the newly elected district leaders. According to the 2024 national census, Rukungiri district has a total Population of 376110 people of which 65 % are youth and the unemployment rate of the district is at 7 % based on 2024 data from the Uganda bureau of statistics.
‘’ During campaigning time, our leaders promised us a lot. They told us that the NRM government is very much committed to creating jobs. This message greatly conceived us and we ended up voting NRM party candidates such that we don’t miss the promised Jobs. So I expect them to address this issue of unemployment amongst us as youth, ’’ Kevin Aine, the Buyanja sub- county youth chairperson said in an interview with our daily monitor over the weekend.
The Rukungiri district youth chairperson Mr levy Napoleon said ‘’ our leaders should focus more on lobbying Jobs for the increasing district’s population because we know that they have capacity and this time we only voted NRM party candidates so we expect them to address this issue of unemployment’’.
Improving Health system and Lobbying district referral hospital.
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Rukungiri District has over 49 health units of which 4 are at level 4, 9 are at level 3 while 43 are at level 2 though they are being phased out of the system. These are both private and public. The district also has 2 hospital all owned by churches.
‘’ Yes, the government constructed public health centers but they are no drugs and health workers normally absent themselves from their work places and even those to report leave early leaving many patients unattended. So I request our newly elected leaders to work on these issues’’. Mr Musiimanta Maria, a resident of southern division in Rukungiri municipality said.
Mr Michael Byarugaba of western division in Rukungiri municipality wants the newly elected leaders to lobby for a district referral hospital.
‘’ We badly need a district referral hospital because we are tired of trekking to Kabale and Mbarara for specialized treatment at Kabale and Mbarara referral hospitals respectively and it is also very expensive ’’ . Mr Byarugaba said.
Electricity problem.
Rukungiri District is undergoing significant electrification with the government aiming for full national grid connection to boost local industries like coffee processing and welding. While major expansion is underway as of late 2025, some rural areas still face delays in receiving power, leading to reliance on alternative energy sources. This is also one of the biggest challenges that is awaiting the newly elected leaders at various positions.
‘’ Electricity is only moving along the roads but deep down in the villages there is no electricity and there are even some villages in the district where an electricity poll has never been elected. When they were looking for votes during campaigns, they told us to vote for the NRM party if we want electricity in our villages because failure to do so we shall not vote for them again’’. Ms Agatha Musiimenta, a resident of Bugangari sub- County told daily monitor.
Mr Albert Tugume of Bwambara sub- County in Rujumbura county Rukungiri district said ‘’ We badly need electricity and we expect our Mp Rtd.Maj.Gen. Jim K Muhwezi to work on this issue because he requested us to vote him for last time because he has plans of extending water and electricity across Rujumbura county so that’s why we voted him again’’
Mr John Mukulu, a resident of Ruhinda sub- county said they have voted for NRM party candidates with a lot of hopes of getting electricity .
‘’ This time, we voted for the NRM party candidates because they conceived us that if we want services we must vote for them and they should also give us what we want ’’ Mr Mukulu said.
Water problem..
Safe water access in Rukungiri District covers approximately 85% of its 831 rural villages, with 709 villages having access to functional water sources. The district has seen significant infrastructure development, including 2,304 domestic water points serving 274,105 people, though some areas like Bwambara, Bugangari, Kebisoni , Buyanja sub- counties remain water-stressed, necessitating further piped system expansion according to information obtained from the district website.
Ms Christine Kyosimire, a resident of Bwambara sub- County said many water sources, particularly shallow wells and spring wells, have dried up, while others have been contaminated by livestock.
‘’ Our area mp of Parliament Rtd. Maj.Gen. Jim K Muhwezi promised us access to safe and clean water. This message made us vote for him again so he must walk his talk and support us with clean water because it is our biggest challenge as Bwambara people’’. Ms Kyomusiime said.
Mr Benard Byamukama, a resident of Western division said ‘’we trek long distances of about 4km to access safe drinking water as if we are not within the Municipality’’.
‘’ It is good that we have now voted NRM party candidates only to represent us at the national level where the national cake is shared from. So we want them to lobby us for water projects which will solve the problem of water shortage in the municipality’’. Mr Byamukama said.
Improving the Education system.
Rukungiri District features a robust education sector with 178 government primary schools and over 50 private primary schools, alongside 30 government secondary schools and 19 private secondary schools.
‘’ Some of us voted for the NRM party candidate because of universal education at primary and secondary levels though it still needs a lot to work better. For example, public schools operate in sorry stated structures, limited furniture among others. So I expect my leaders to address these issues for us to have good public schools’’ Mr Michael Tusiime said.
Wild animals problem .
Rukungiri district neighbors Queen Elizabeth National Game Park and Wild animals, like elephants, baboons, and wild boars, cause significant agricultural damage, destroying thousands of acres of crops and threatening food security.
This issue is particularly severe near protected areas, causing income loss, hindering development, and requiring mitigation strategies like beehive fences, deterrents, and potential compensation.
‘’ Our mp should at least lobby for electric face because we lose a lot and at times we lose lives. I voted him because during NRM party elections, our mp Rtd. Maj.Gen. Jim K Muhwezi promised us an electric face so I had to vote him because of this promise and he should fulfill it ‘’. Mr Kenneth Nuwagabe , a resident of Bwambara sub- county said.
Improving district road network, lobbying for brand new road equipment for both municipality and district, looking for market, lobbying public university, finalizing industrial park in bwambara sub-county are other challenges that are also awaiting the newly elected political leaders.
Elected leaders.
The minister of security Rtd.Maj.Gen.Jim K Muhwezi was elected to represent Rujumbura county, Rtd.Lt.Gen.Henry Tumukunde was elected for Rukungiri municipality, Mathias Mwesigye was voted for Rubabo county while Mary paula was voted as the district woman Mp.
And the district and municipal level, Charles Andrewson Katebire was voted as the district chairperson while Boaz Matita was voted as the mayor for Rukungiri municipal council.
The all voted leaders were from the ruling NRM government.
