Local government leaders from across the 12 administrative units of the Busoga sub-region, operating under the Busoga Consortium for Development (BCD), converged at the Civil Service College of Uganda in Jinja City to elect new leadership for the consortium.
In a highly anticipated transition, Bugiri District LC5 Chairperson, Mulumba Davidson Kasajja, was elected as the BCD’s new Governor. Kasajja takes the baton from Bishop Frank Tibagendeka, the former LC5 Chairperson of Mayuge District, who has successfully completed his two-year tenure. The leaders also elected Iganga District LC5 Chairperson, Shabiru Isabirye, to serve as the new Vice Governor.
In his role as the Consortium’s Governor, he works alongside BCD Director General Anthony Mula and patron Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga to spearhead regional poverty alleviation, education, and development partnerships, such as the Village Agriculture Model (VAM).
The high-profile event was graced by the 3rd Deputy Prime Minister and Chairperson of the BCD Ministerial Coordination Committee, Rt. Hon. Rukia Nakadama, alongside regional Members of Parliament, District Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs), and cultural and religious leaders.
*A Vision for Rapid Socio-Economic Transformation:**
Delivering his strategic vision for the next five years, BCD Director General, Anthony Mula, projected that Busoga is poised to develop at an accelerated pace, building upon the solid foundation of regional cohesion established through previous political engagements and prayer weeks.
“We intend to consolidate unity as a core pillar of our regional transformation,” Mula stated.
He noted that the consortium will leverage the absolute solidarity within the Busoga Parliamentary Caucus to establish regional committees aimed at aggressive lobbying at the national level.
Key development pillars highlighted by the Secretariat for the upcoming term include:
The Village Agriculture Model Programme: Benchmarked against successful rural transformation strategies in the People’s Republic of China, this initiative complements the Parish Development Model (PDM). Having already piloted three villages in Namayingo (Namayombe), Mayuge (Mashiaga), and Kamuli (Busana), the BCD plans to roll out 12 model villages by 2028. The goal is to lift approximately 9,000 households out of extreme poverty and propel Busoga to the fastest-growing sub-region in Uganda, achieving middle-income status by 2030.
Massive Youth Skills Training: Under the continuous stewardship of the Busoga Kingdom, the consortium has resolved to provide technical and entrepreneurial training to one million young people, utilizing local, regional, and international training networks.
Digital Online Teaching Program: Set to launch officially in July 2026, this pioneering digital learning program will link 50 schools across Busoga to live, real-time lessons delivered by specialized teachers, democratizing access to quality education.
School Feeding and Soya Milk Initiative: Aimed at boosting cognitive development and reviving the historical academic excellence of Busoga, a comprehensive school feeding program will be launched in July by the Ministry of Education. This will be supported by reviving school gardens in collaboration with the agricultural departments, local governments, and the Busoga Kingdom.
International Partnerships and Zero Tolerance for Corruption:
Reflecting on the milestones of the past five years, the Director General highlighted major breakthroughs in international trade and cooperation. Under the political guidance of the First Deputy Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, Busoga established historic ties with China’s Liaoning and Shandong provinces.
Notably, in November 2025, Busoga became the first sub-region in Uganda to directly export agricultural produce to the Chinese market, flagging off an initial 11 tons of chili from Kamuli.
Presiding over the function, the 3rd Deputy Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Rukia Nakadama, commended the outgoing leadership and tasked the newly elected leaders to intensely monitor public resources.
She emphasized that the upcoming government allocation of UGX 200 million per parish under the PDM is a game-changer capable of replicating the rapid development model seen in global hubs like Dubai.
“Dubai was developed within a period of 20 years because there was no corruption. I call upon the new LC5 chairpersons and CAOs to work as a team and strictly eliminate corruption among parish chiefs. We must make close follow-ups to ensure these funds reach our people to effectively alter the poverty level,” Nakadama noted.
Commitments from Incoming and Outgoing Governors:
In his acceptance speech, the incoming Governor, Mulumba Davidson Kasajja, pledged to aggressively preach the gospel of unity, transcending political, religious, and traditional boundaries to tackle the obstacles frustrating Busoga’s growth.
“If it requires kneeling down to bring leaders together, I will do it,” Kasajja vowed.
He committed to operationalizing existing international partnerships with China to ensure visible local benefits, citing national precedents like China’s support for Naguru Hospital and various sports infrastructure.
Furthermore, he promised to integrate the model village approach directly into local government annual development plans to raise agricultural production and uplift subpar education standards.
The outgoing Governor, Bishop Frank Tibagendeka, expressed immense gratitude to the BCD Secretariat and the media fraternity for their selfless service.
Reflecting on the divine mandate of leadership, Tibagendeka commended Director General Anthony Mula for his unique vision and humility in empowering regional stakeholders.
He concluded by celebrating the legacy of leadership continuity, specifically noting his pride in being succeeded in Mayuge District by a leader he personally mentored, signaling bright prospects for the entire sub-region.
