Bugabula South Member of Parliament aspirant under the Peoples Front for Freedom (PFF), Proscovia Salaamu Musumba, has urged the public to differentiate between political rallies and national development events.
Her remarks follow debates around her attendance at the official opening of the Dei Biopharma Starch Factory in Busambu, Namasagali, Kamuli District, presided over by President Yoweri Museveni on November 20.
Speaking during community engagements after the event, Musumba clarified that her presence was purely developmental, emphasizing that she attended at the invitation of the factory's founder, Paul Magoola.
"I attended the Dei Biopharma opening at Dr. Magoola's invitation. This wasn't a rally--it was about development. People often fail to distinguish between the two," Musumba said.
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She explained her participation aimed to mobilize Bugabula South residents to benefit economically from cassava production, a key raw material for the factory, and to demonstrate the value of multiparty cooperation in national development.
"Salaam is a democrat and stateswoman who understands that working with others, regardless of political affiliation, advances the common good. Multiparty politics is about coexistence and tolerance," she added.
Musumba also highlighted her previous record as Kamuli District Chairperson, where she successfully implemented the NRM government manifesto despite belonging to the FDC at the time--an approach that helped the district achieve a national second-best ranking. She recalled accompanying President Museveni to the Vatican to seek development support for Kamuli Municipality, focusing on community projects rather than personal gains.
She further described attending the event as a matter of personal integrity, citing her long-standing friendship with Magoola. "It would haunt me not to honour his invitation," she said.
During the inauguration, First Deputy Prime Minister and Kamuli Woman MP Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga appealed to the President for further infrastructure support, including a power line extension from Isimba Dam, tarmacking the Budhumbula-Namasagali-Busambu road, and designating the factory as an industrial park.
Development consultant Henry Munaaba Dhikusooka of the Butansi Elders Forum praised Musumba's non-partisan stance, describing it as a key asset for regional progress. Local residents also lauded the factory launch, highlighting its potential to uplift cassava farmers and drive industrial growth in the Busoga sub-region.
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The Dei Biopharma Starch Factory is expected to serve as a major economic catalyst in Kamuli District while promoting broader regional development initiatives.
