By Shivan Ayebare
The Head of the RDC Secretariat Maj. Martha Asiimwe, has called on leaders and citizens in Rubanda District to uphold accountability, unity, and patriotism as government intensifies efforts to improve service delivery under the theme “Protecting the Gains for Quality Service Delivery.”
Speaking during the official launch of the nationwide government mobilisation campaign in Rubanda, Maj. Asiimwe said the engagement is part of a broader strategy by the Office of the President to ensure every Ugandan has access to accurate information about government programmes, resource utilisation, and opportunities for socio-economic transformation.
She reaffirmed President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s vision for the 2021–2026 term, which focuses on socio-economic transformation through initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP), and the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP).
Maj. Asiimwe commended the people of Rubanda for their overwhelming support to the NRM and President Museveni in the 2021 general elections. The district recorded over 98 percent votes for the NRM, ranking second in the Kigezi sub-region and 18th nationally.
Under the Parish Development Model, government has invested UGX 3.3 trillion nationally, with each of the 10,594 parishes receiving UGX 100 million annually. Rubanda District alone has received UGX 13.3 billion, which has been disbursed to 69 parish SACCOs, benefiting 13,441 citizens.
Additional programme achievements include:
- Emyooga: UGX 2.25 billion disbursed to 32 SACCOs, with recoveries of UGX 1.1 billion.
- YLP: UGX 920 million benefiting 1,583 youth.
- UWEP: UGX 614 million supporting 172 women’s groups with 1,774 beneficiaries.
- PWD Programme: UGX 115 million supporting 422 beneficiaries.
Maj. Asiimwe cautioned against misuse of funds and urged local leaders to ensure transparency and accountability, particularly under the Youth Livelihood Programme where recoveries remain low.
She also highlighted Uganda’s progress in infrastructure development, noting that the country’s tarmac road network has grown from 1,900 km in 1986 to 6,850 km today. Each district, including Rubanda, receives UGX 1 billion annually for road rehabilitation.
On education, Maj. Asiimwe reaffirmed government’s commitment to universal education through UPE and USE. She added that President Museveni has pledged to recruit 50,000 new teachers to eliminate fees that hinder access for underprivileged children.
Maj. Asiimwe stressed that peace and security remain the foundation of Uganda’s prosperity. She pointed out the strategic importance of the Kigezi sub-region, which borders Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as a hub for regional stability and trade.
She also praised Rubanda’s tourism potential, citing Lake Bunyonyi, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Echuya Forest, which collectively attract over 1,000 visitors annually. She called for improved road access to boost tourism and community livelihoods.
Maj. Asiimwe urged local leaders, youth, and women councils to mobilise citizens for civic participation, environmental conservation, and registration with the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) ahead of the next elections.
She reminded citizens that government programmes are a right, not a favour, and encouraged them to actively demand accountability while fulfilling their civic responsibilities.
Uganda’s health infrastructure has also expanded, with 2 national referral hospitals, 19 regional hospitals, 147 district hospitals, and 3,610 Health Centre IIs established across the country.
Concluding her remarks, Maj. Asiimwe called upon government officials, RDCs, and civil servants to serve with integrity, professionalism, and humility.
“We are servants of the people, not masters,” she said. “The NRM government remains the medicine that has worked, curing insecurity, poverty, and institutional collapse. Let us protect these gains and build a prosperous, united Uganda.”
She also echoed President Museveni’s message under the Buy Uganda, Build Uganda (BUBU) initiative, urging every Ugandan to produce goods and services that grow the national economy.
The Protecting the Gains for Quality Service Delivery campaign is a nationwide mobilisation initiative led by the RDC Secretariat and the Anti-Corruption Unit under the Office of the President. Its objectives are to strengthen citizen engagement in government programmes, promote accountability and transparency, improve service delivery across districts, and consolidate Uganda’s socio-economic transformation under Vision 2040.
