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Shift Media News 
By PATRICK JARAMOGI
TORORO, Uganda [SHIFTMEDIA]
For over four decades, the people of Bukedi region, particularly Tororo, have remained steadfast in their support for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party. Their unwavering loyalty at the ballot box has been evident in election after election, as they overwhelmingly voted for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his government. Yet, despite this consistent backing, the region remains woefully underdeveloped, with many basic infrastructural needs unmet. Among these, the lack of tarmacked roads stands out as a glaring deficiency, symbolizing the unfulfilled promises and neglected priorities of successive administrations.
The Tororo-Nagongera-Busolwe road is a key artery that connects various communities within the region. It serves as a vital link for farmers transporting their produce to markets, students traveling to schools, and residents accessing healthcare services. However, the road is in a deplorable state, riddled with potholes and becoming almost impassable during the rainy season. This has not only hampered economic activity but also subjected the residents to unnecessary hardship, leaving them feeling abandoned by a government they have supported so diligently.
Top leaders in the region, including prominent politicians, religious figures, and community activists, have reached a breaking point. Among them, Rt Hon. Usher Wilson Owere, a vocal political activist, has emerged as one of the most outspoken advocates for the tarmacking of the Tororo- Nagongera-Busolwe road.
Owere and other leaders have made it clear to President Museveni and the NRM leadership that enough is enough. In a meeting convened to address the region’s concerns, they issued an unambiguous ultimatum: if the road is not tarmacked before the 2026 general elections, they will withdraw their electoral support.
“For years, we have given the NRM our trust and our votes, but what have we received in return?” Owere asked passionately during the recent JAPFEST 24 meeting held in Kyambogo University Grounds. “Our children cannot go to school when it rains. Farmers lose their crops because they cannot reach markets. Are we not Ugandans too?” His words echoed the frustration of a community that feels overlooked despite their loyalty.
Usher Wilson Owere, the vocalist former Chairman General of the National Organisation of Trade Unions (NOTU) is also the second Deputy Prime Minister in-charge of the Diaspora in the Tieng Adhola Cultural Institution.
Religious leaders, often seen as the moral compass of the community, have also added their voices to the growing chorus of discontent. In sermons and public gatherings, they have urged the government to prioritize the Nagongera-Busolwe road as a matter of urgency. “It is not just a road; it is a lifeline for our people,” one bishop remarked during a community event. “We cannot continue to pray for blessings while ignoring the work that needs to be done here on Earth.”
Joseph Ochieno, a leading UPC stalwart told the Jopadhola gathered at the JAPFEST24 that the tarmacking of the Tororo –Nagongera Busolwe road was earmarked way back during the Obote’s regime. He wondered why 40 years down the road, it remains un-tarmacked.
The NRM leadership, aware of the potential political repercussions, has promised to address the issue. However, such promises are not new to the people of Tororo. Over the years, President Museveni has on several campaigns trail, including a recent visit in Bukedi promised to tarmack the roads. But these promises have always faded into oblivion once elections are over.
This time, however, the stakes are different. With a growing sense of political awareness and mounting pressure from influential leaders, the residents of Bukedi are determined to hold the government accountable.
In the broader political landscape, the ultimatum issued by Tororo’s leaders underscores a significant shift in Uganda’s electoral dynamics. It serves as a reminder to the NRM that loyalty is not unconditional. Communities across the country are beginning to demand tangible results in exchange for their votes. The era of blind allegiance is giving way to a more transactional political engagement, where development is seen as the rightful dividend of electoral support.
As 2026 approaches, the clock is ticking for the NRM to make good on its promises. The tarmacking of the Nagongera-Busolwe road has become more than just an infrastructural project; it is now a litmus test of the government’s commitment to its people. For the residents of Tororo, it is a fight for dignity, equity, and the right to a better quality of life. Whether their demands will finally be met remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the people of Bukedi are no longer willing to settle for empty promises.
