By Brian Mugenyi
mugenyijj@gmail.com
BUSIA MUNICIPALITY — In a district where more than 400,000 people depend on government services, agriculture, trade and community development programmes, a political question is taking shape ahead of the Local Council One (LC1) elections:
Can years of grassroots mobilisation, combined with visible government development achievements, translate into electoral confidence for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) in Busia?
At the centre of this political test is Ambassador Barbara Nekesa Oundo, the National Treasurer of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Party Secretariat, and one of the party’s most influential grassroots mobilisers in the Bukedi sub-region.
For years, Nekesa has built political networks across Busia, engaging communities, strengthening party structures and championing the implementation of government programmes under the leadership of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Now, the district has produced one of the most notable grassroots political outcomes in eastern Uganda, with 105 LC1 chairperson candidates declared unopposed — a development observers say reflects strong organisation, local consensus and the strength of village-level structures.
For Nekesa, the figures represent more than an electoral statistic.
They represent what she describes as years of connecting citizens with government programmes and ensuring communities understand and benefit from President Museveni’s development agenda.
“I want to appreciate His Excellency President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for his continued commitment to transforming the lives of Ugandans. His vision has always been about taking development to the grassroots, where ordinary citizens can feel the impact of government programmes,” Ambassador Nekesa said.
She added:
“The roads being constructed, the investment in health services and programmes such as the Parish Development Model show the President’s determination to ensure that no community is left behind. As leaders, our responsibility is to mobilise our people to embrace these opportunities and use them to improve their livelihoods.”
Nekesa says the foundation of the NRM has always been its grassroots approach, where leaders maintain direct contact with citizens and understand their challenges.
“President Museveni has always emphasised that development must reach the people. The village is where people live, where they work and where they need services. That is why grassroots mobilisation remains very important,” she said.
She added:
The 105 LC1 Political Signal“Our work as NRM leaders is to mobilise, sensitise and support our people so that they can benefit from the programmes brought by government under the leadership of President Museveni.”
The LC1 elections remain one of Uganda’s most important grassroots democratic exercises because village leaders serve as the closest representatives of government to citizens.
Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi has consistently emphasised that LC1 leaders are the foundation of Uganda’s governance system because they are closest to communities.
Justice Byabakama has noted that village leaders play a critical role in promoting accountability, resolving community disputes, supporting peaceful coexistence and ensuring government programmes reach intended beneficiaries.
In Busia, the nomination results have attracted attention because of the high number of unopposed candidates spread across different communities.
Busime Sub-county recorded the highest number with 16 candidates, followed by Masaba with 14 and Buhehe with 12.
Other areas that registered notable numbers included Buteba with seven, Buyanga and Majanji with six each, Eastern Division and Dabani with five each, and Masafu Town Council with five.
Lumino, Lumino–Majanji Town Council, Bulumbi and Busitema each recorded four unopposed candidates.
Western Division and Namungodi Town Council registered three each, while Lunyo and Masafu recorded two each.
Tiira Town Council, Sikuda and Masinya each recorded one unopposed LC1 chairperson.
Development Becomes Part of the Political ConversationWhile the LC1 election figures have generated political debate, Busia’s story is also shaped by government investments that have transformed infrastructure, service delivery and economic activity.
According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), Busia remains one of the important population centres in eastern Uganda, with a growing population that continues to increase demand for roads, healthcare, education and economic opportunities.
The district’s strategic location along the Uganda-Kenya border has also made it a major commercial hub, connecting traders, farmers and businesses across the region.
Mr. Moses Mangeni, the Busia District Communication Officer, says government investment in roads and social services has improved livelihoods and strengthened access to opportunities.
“Government investment in roads and social services has improved movement, trade and access to government programmes. These developments are making a difference in the lives of our people,” Mangeni said.
Among the visible infrastructure developments are upgraded roads within Busia Municipality, including roads serving North A, North B, Central Division, Dabani and surrounding communities.
The improvements have strengthened connectivity in the border municipality, which remains one of Uganda’s busiest commercial gateways to Kenya.
Busia Municipality Town Clerk Mr. Katunda Mukulu says infrastructure development has become a major driver of economic growth by helping farmers, traders and small businesses access markets.
“Busia is a growing municipality with many people depending on its services. The development programmes being implemented by government are helping improve the lives of our people and supporting economic activities,” Mukulu said.
He added:
“The improved roads have enabled our people to move their agricultural products to markets more easily. Beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model are using these roads to transport their produce and access business centres.”
According to Mukulu, improved connectivity has strengthened Busia’s position as a commercial centre by reducing transport challenges and improving movement of goods and services.
Healthcare: The Human Face of Development“I am happy with the Government of Uganda for constructing these roads. As a border municipality, this investment is rewarding our people by supporting trade, movement of goods and economic growth,” he said.
Beyond roads, healthcare remains one of the strongest indicators through which citizens measure government performance.
According to Dr. Odor, a health official in Busia, the district has continued expanding access to healthcare through a network of health facilities serving communities across the district.
Dr. Odor says Busia has 33 health facilities, including government and private facilities, providing maternal healthcare, immunisation, outpatient treatment, disease prevention and other essential services.
He says continued investment in healthcare has reduced the distance many residents travel to seek medical attention and strengthened primary healthcare delivery.
“The government has continued investing in healthcare services because health is the foundation of development. With our health facilities spread across Busia, communities are now able to access essential services closer to where they live,” Dr. Odor said.
He added:
“Facilities such as Sofia Health Centre III continue playing an important role in providing maternal healthcare, outpatient services, immunisation and preventive healthcare to our people.”
Health officials say improved access to healthcare has supported families, especially mothers, children and vulnerable groups who depend on primary healthcare services.
For many residents, healthcare remains one of the most visible ways they experience the presence of government.
PDM: Transforming Households from Subsistence to the Money EconomyEconomic empowerment has become another major part of Busia’s development conversation through the Parish Development Model (PDM).
Launched by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in 2022, the programme seeks to transform households from subsistence production into active participants in Uganda’s money economy through enterprise development, financial inclusion and organised community groups.
Mr. David Maloba John, the Assistant Fisheries Officer and Busia District coordinator for PDM implementation, says the programme has reached thousands of residents.
“Through the Parish Development Model, we have reached over 19,000 beneficiaries who are organised in more than 800 cooperative groups. These groups have helped communities work together, access government support and invest in productive enterprises,” Maloba said.
Beneficiaries have invested in enterprises including coffee growing, poultry farming, piggery and other income-generating activities.
Mr. Katunda Mukulu says combining PDM with improved infrastructure is helping households increase production and access markets.
“When you combine economic empowerment with infrastructure, people are able to produce, transport their products and access markets. Development must work together — roads, livelihoods and service delivery,” Mukulu said.
He says the combination of improved roads and household empowerment programmes is strengthening economic activity in Busia.
The Analyst’s ViewPolitical analysts say Busia presents a wider national debate on whether development achievements can influence electoral choices.
A political analyst observing grassroots politics says voters increasingly judge leadership through practical outcomes.
“Citizens look at what changes in their daily lives. Roads, healthcare and economic opportunities influence how communities assess government performance. However, voters ultimately make independent decisions based on their experiences,” the analyst said.
The analyst added:
“A strong mobilisation network creates visibility and engagement, but elections are ultimately decided by the trust between leaders and citizens.”
The analyst says the 105 unopposed LC1 candidates demonstrate organisational strength but the final political verdict remains with voters.
Nekesa’s Grassroots MomentFor Ambassador Barbara Nekesa Oundo, Busia’s 105 unopposed LC1 candidates represent the strength of grassroots organisation and years of political mobilisation.
As NRM National Treasurer at the Party Secretariat, she remains a key figure in strengthening party structures and communicating the government’s development agenda.
Her supporters argue that the combination of political organisation and visible government projects has strengthened confidence among communities.
However, the final verdict belongs to the people of Busia.
As residents prepare to elect their village leaders, they will judge leadership through practical realities — the roads connecting them to markets, the health facilities serving their families and the economic opportunities available in their communities.
The question facing Busia is bigger than one election:
Can development gains become electoral power?For Ambassador Nekesa and the NRM, the ballot box will provide the ultimate answer on whether years of grassroots mobilisation, party organisation and President Museveni’s development agenda have created a lasting political connection with the people of Busia.
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