Nakaseke braces for Museveni’s 80th birthday celebrations – The Kampala Report

Preparations are in high gear in Nakaseke district ahead of the party organized to celebrate the 80th birthday of President Yoweri Museveni.

The party organized by the office of the Prime Minister and National Resistance Movement secretariat will take place on Sunday at Kijjaguzo Catholic Parish, Semuto town council in Nakaseke district starting with a thanksgiving mass.

The event that Museveni will grace is expected to attract veterans and residents from Luwero, Nakaseke and Nakasongola districts.

Currently, a free medical camp is ongoing at the venue and tents are being erected to host the Sunday event.

Museveni will also host another invite-only birthday party at his Presidential farm located at Kawumu village in Luwero district.

There are mixed reactions from residents and leaders in Nakaseke district ahead of the birthday fete for President Yoweri Museveni.

Rosemary Namayanja the Deputy Secretary General of the National Resistance Movement said that the birthday party is intended not only to celebrate but to thank God for the significant contribution made by President Museveni towards the Country during his life.

Namayanja cited achievements by Museveni, the introduction of the Local Council system of governance which has been copied and implemented by many countries.

She added that through Museveni’s government, schools, health centres and roads have been constructed across the Country among others.

Moses Mayanja the District Speaker for Nakaseke said the selection of the area to host the party indicates that Museveni still recognizes the significant contribution made by the area towards his National Resistance Army war of 1981-1986.

Mayanja adds that through Museveni’s leadership, almost all sub-counties in Nakaseke now have seed secondary schools and others are under construction. He added that each sub-county in the district also boasts of health centres and roads than before.

Kabuye Kyofa the State Minister of Kampala Metropolitan Affairs said the residents will also use the birthday party to thank Museveni for introducing wealth creation programmes which include the Parish Development Model which is uplifting household incomes.

Ignatius Koomu the LCV Chairperson of Nakaseke district added that the party is an opportunity to thank Museveni but also remind him to fulfil his outstanding pledges to the veterans and the district. Koomu said that several veterans are still unhappy that 38 years after the war, they are yet to get compensation packages.

Nakaseke boasts only 114 UPE schools, 12 government-aided schools, one hospital, eight health centres at level three, and two others at level four.

However, a section of residents and leaders says the function is a mockery of the area and a waste of taxpayers’ money.

Fred Kakooza the LCIII Chairperson of Kasangombe sub-county said the the area still lags despite paying the highest price to support Museveni’s war and support in general elections.

Kakooza added that the schools in the district still lack teachers, no tarmac roads and health centres operate with no drugs.

Kakooza said Museveni boasts no major infrastructure project in the area and he should return to launch one rather than host a lavish birthday party there.

Esther Nakawooya another leader said the funds that have been used to organize the birthday could be allocated to renovate dilapidated schools in the district and other service projects.

Nakawooya listed Universal Primary schools that include Timuna, Namasujju and Kivumu among others that are state of collapse due to a lack of funds for renovation.

Other section of leaders believe that Museveni’s birthday party only fits in NRM’s strategy to popularize his re-election bid ahead of the 2026 general election after registering a decline in support from the area he considered his stronghold.

According to the Electoral Commission Presidential results for Nakaseke, Museveni scored 38009 votes (53.1%) and his arch-rival Robert Kyagulanyi got 32063 votes (45.1%). Two out of Four MP slots in Nakaseke are also held by opposition candidates.