By Aaron Okotel
MBALE CITY
Veteran politician and National Resistance Movement (NRM) stalwart, Captain Mike Mukula, has passionately reiterated the urgent need for a public university in the Bugisu sub-region, asserting its pivotal role in unlocking the area’s development potential.
Speaking to journalists at Wash and Wills Hotel in Mbale City on Saturday, May 17th, 2025, Mukula, who has declared his intention to seek re-election as the NRM National Vice-Chairman for Eastern Uganda, highly appreciated the current vision of a Bugisu University of Science and Technology.
“We need to have the university, and if possible we have one at Elgon Technical,” he stated emphatically. “We can now have Bugisu University of Science and Technology. To me, that is very important.”
Beyond education, Mukula also pledged to champion the establishment of a value addition factory for the region’s renowned Arabica coffee. He lamented the current practice of exporting raw beans and stressed the economic benefits of processing within the region.
“I think we can work with the Bugisu Cooperative Union to build an advanced coffee factory like the one in Ntungamo or even better,” he proposed.
Turning to the upcoming election period, Mukula described it as “very crucial,” hinting at potential transitions in the political landscape. He emphasized the necessity of experienced leaders in governance, stating, “You need minds that are in the issues of political governance of the country, and there’s no doubt that I, as Captain Mukula, have got experience as vice-chairman.”
In his bid to further empower the population, Mukula promised to leverage government programs such as the Parish Development Model and Emyooga to expand financial inclusion and combat poverty, which he identified as Uganda’s most significant challenge. He also highlighted the critical issue of youth unemployment, noting that “80% of the population is below the age of 30 years” and requiring a transformative approach for improved livelihoods.
Mukula lauded the NRM’s achievements in establishing peace and security across the nation. He cited the disarmament efforts in Karamoja, where “over 80,000 guns” were neutralized, bringing stability to the region.
He also pointed to Uganda’s involvement in regional peace efforts, including the fight against the ADF in the Democratic Republic of Congo and contributions to stability in Somalia and South Sudan, attributing these gains to the leadership of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
Highlighting ongoing development in the Eastern region, Mukula noted the tarmacking of the Kapchorwa-Suam road and the extension of electricity to the Kenyan border.
Regarding future infrastructure plans, he assured the development of key roads, including the Tirinyi-Palisa-Kumi route and the planned construction from Kumi through Ngora and Serere to Kagwara, as well as the Katine-Kalaki-Kaberamaido-Kampala road.
Mukula’s pronouncements underscore his commitment to driving socio-economic transformation in the Bugisu sub-region and his continued dedication to national leadership within the NRM.
His focus on education, value addition, and economic empowerment resonates with the aspirations of the local population as the country gears up for the upcoming elections.
