Residents of Rukiga District have urged Dr. Sylvia Alinaitwe Tumuheirwe Mwanaki, a former Deputy Managing Director for Finance and Corporate Strategy at the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), to push for the fulfillment of longstanding road pledges made by President Yoweri Museveni if she is to remain politically relevant in the district.
During the 2001 presidential campaigns—and again in 2016—President Museveni pledged to tarmac the 61-kilometer Muhanga–Kisiizi–Kebisoni road, which connects Rukiga and Rukungiri Districts, and the 38-kilometer Rutobo–Kyogo–Muhanga road, which links Uganda to Rwanda. However, the roads remain in poor condition, frustrating local residents and leaders.
Francis Sabitti, a 64-year-old resident of Rwemigugo Village in Kibanda Parish, Kamwezi Sub-county, recalled Museveni’s promise during a campaign rally at Kamwezi playground. “To this day, nothing has been done,” he said. “The road is still full of potholes, and we don’t see our leaders following up.”
Sabitti urged Dr. Alinaitwe, should she be elected, not to follow in the footsteps of leaders who have failed to demand accountability on behalf of their constituents. Other residents, including Agnes Success of Muhanga Town Council, Sam Niwandinda from Hamuhonga in Rwamucucu Sub-county, and Jimmy Kawaida, LC3 Chairperson of Mparo Town Council, echoed Sabitti’s concerns.
They noted that the poor road conditions hamper the transportation of goods and services and attributed the delays in fulfilling the pledges to weak follow-up by current leaders. They urged Alinaitwe to be the change agent if voted into office. Speaking during a campaign rally at Kantare Playground in Kashambya Sub-county, Dr. Alinaitwe assured voters that she would prioritize the issue if elected.
She pledged to actively follow up with the Office of the President and relevant ministries until the road projects are implemented. Dr. Alinaitwe also emphasized the need for peaceful elections in Rukiga and the broader Kigezi sub-region, urging all stakeholders to maintain calm and respect democratic processes. She is contesting in the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries against the incumbent Rukiga Woman MP, Caroline Kamusiime Muhwezi.
