“If the vulture fails to hover at the end of a sacrifice, then you know that something happened in the land of spirits.” This is precisely the Igbo proverb that the highly admired political tactician, Gen. Museveni, is fulfilling. He asserts that the regulars must be around; otherwise, there might be a mess.
Bukedi region is the eastern part of Uganda, encompassing districts like Busia, Tororo, Pallisa, Butaleja, Kibuku, and Butebo. It is one of the areas where President Museveni achieved a resounding victory in the 2021 presidential elections, humbling his political rival, the inexperienced Robert Kyagulanyi.
As the elders say, “Let the young man in his desperation go out and hunt. If he kills the elephant, his poverty ends. If the elephant kills him, his poverty ends.” Renowned for his tactical acumen, Mr. Museveni first allowed Bobi Wine to undertake his tour. After Bobi Wine’s attempts, characterized by reckless, revengeful, and divisive statements of tribalism and sectarianism, failed to yield results, Mr. Museveni is personally going to Bukedi to address these issues. While others may engage in smaller matters, Mr. Museveni remains committed to his grand ideals of Pan-Africanism, patriotism, democracy, and socioeconomic transformation, transcending lines of religion and tribe in stark contrast to his rivals.
Ahead of the anticipated presidential tour in Bukedi, Eastern Uganda, numerous questions loom in the minds of the local residents, particularly concerning the issue of wetlands, which are vital to their livelihoods.
Bukedi encompasses a land area of about 845.5 square kilometers, dotted with wetlands. The primary soil type is sandy clay loam, indicating that the people in this region heavily rely on swamps, with rice as a major crop.
In his Independence Day address this year, the president clearly emphasized the need to halt cultivation in wetlands. Whether this directive will be enforced remains to be seen. If implemented, it could potentially alienate the president from the region, as it is exceptionally challenging for the locals to vacate the wetlands, which are their lifeblood. It’s a matter of survival, and the NRM may face significant setbacks in the 2026 polls as a result.
The majority of the population (91 percent) are subsistence farmers who primarily grow cassava, millet, rice, sweet potatoes, maize, and beans for food crops, along with Robusta coffee and sugar cane as cash crops. Additionally, some engage in livestock farming and fishing activities.
President Museveni is known for his compassionate nature in this often harsh world. While protecting our environment is undoubtedly the right decision, there must be a well-structured alternative for those dependent on wetlands.
Other economic activities in the region include mining, with gold mining being prominent in Busia, cross-border and internal trade within designated markets, and weekly market days (auctions).
The region boasts some of the best infrastructure developments in the country, with well-connected roads such as the two primary routes to the Kenyan port of Mombasa: the Mombasa – Malaba – Kampala road and the Mombasa – Kisumu – Busia – Kampala road. The Tororo-Soroti road has also undergone rehabilitation, with new tarmac, as has the Iganga-Mbale road. This has enhanced trade in the region by facilitating the movement of people and their commodities to market centers.
President Museveni, it is worth heeding Chinua Achebe’s words: “Salute the deaf; if the heavens don’t hear, the earth will hear.” In other words, do the right thing, and there will be those who understand and support your actions.
Those with a clear conscience will ultimately prevail and need not fear accusations. When you act in line with your convictions, you rid yourself of guilt and can count on both heaven and earth to bear witness and defend you. If heaven fails to see, understand, and witness your actions, the earth will do so.
The writer, George Mubiru, is a researcher based in Jinja and an NRM mobilizer.
Tel: 0754877595
Email: georgemubiru93@gmail.com
