Busoga Leaders Champion Regional Cabinet Representation, Highlight Key Development Projects

Leaders from across the Busoga sub-region are rallying behind initiatives to strengthen regional voices within the national Cabinet and Parliament. This push is seen as crucial for advancing the area’s socio-economic transformation and fostering greater collaboration.

During a recent engagement hosted by the Busoga Consortium for Development (BCD) in Bugiri District, local government officials highlighted several key infrastructure projects nearing completion or in advanced stages. Prominent among these are the ongoing upgrades to the Jinja-Mbulamuti-Kamuli-Bukungu road, a vital transport corridor aimed at reducing travel times and bolstering Jinja City’s role as an eastern commercial hub. The rehabilitation of the Iganga-Kiyunga-Kamuli road network is also underway, expected to boost trade and agricultural transport.

In the education sector, the much-anticipated reopening of Busoga University, following a nine-year hiatus, marks a significant milestone. These developments are seen as tangible progress aligned with the Busoga Development Agenda 2020/21–2030/31, a ten-year plan launched in 2020.

Dr. Anthony Mula, Director General of the BCD, outlined the ambitious goals of the agenda, which includes lifting 12 model villages out of poverty by 2028 and contributing to the sub-region’s transition to middle-income status by 2030. Efforts are also focused on agricultural development through the Village Agricultural Model (VAM), which complements national programs.

Officials emphasized the importance of continued local government commitment and the enactment of supportive by-laws, particularly for initiatives like reviving school feeding programs and school gardens, to enhance food security and educational outcomes.

The BCD, established in 2017, serves as a framework to coordinate development across various sectors, aiming to drive long-term regional growth and prosperity.