By KT Reporter
The National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential flag bearer, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has urged voters in Kisoro District to reject President Yoweri Museveni, accusing him of repeatedly deceiving them about the construction of the John Kale Institute of Science and Technology.
In 2017, President Museveni pledged to establish the institute in memory of the late John Muhima Kalekezi, the father of former Inspector General of Police Gen. Edward Kale Kayihura, in recognition of his contribution to promoting Pan-Africanism. That same year, Museveni laid a foundation stone for the project on 168 acres of land in Rwivovo Village, Nyakabande Sub-county.
The President also promised to allocate UGX 6.8 billion to compensate locals occupying the land to pave the way for construction. The pledge led to the relocation of the Nyakabande Refugee Transit Centre to another part of the sub-county. However, the project has since stalled — with residents and local leaders accusing the President of failing to fulfill his promise. Some have linked the delay to Museveni’s fallout with Gen. Kayihura.
While addressing supporters at Saza Playground in Kisoro District on Tuesday evening, Kyagulanyi accused Museveni of deceiving the people, saying the institute would never be established as long as he remained in power.
Kyagulanyi also pledged to improve Uganda’s relations with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to strengthen cross-border trade. He noted that many young people in Kisoro are unemployed and struggling economically because of Museveni’s alleged preference for regional conflicts, which once led to the closure of the Uganda–Rwanda border.
Relations between Uganda and Rwanda deteriorated in 2019 after Rwandan President Paul Kagame ordered the closure of the border, accusing Ugandan authorities of espionage, abduction of Rwandan citizens, and support for anti-Kigali dissidents.
Rwanda also issued a travel advisory warning its citizens against traveling to Uganda, citing security concerns. During the closure, five Ugandans were reportedly shot dead by Rwandan security forces over alleged smuggling.
The border was reopened on January 31, 2022, restoring cooperation between the two countries. Similarly, the Uganda–DRC borders of Bunagana and Busanza in Kisoro District, as well as Ishasha in Kanungu District, were closed in 2022 after they were captured by M23 rebels.
They were reopened in July 2025 on orders from higher Ugandan authorities. However, cross-border trade has been slow to recover, as traders remain wary of potential hostilities amid continued rebel activity in eastern DRC.
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