President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has warned that he will take tough action against leaders he described as lazy and indifferent to the welfare of Ugandans, saying leaders who fail to use government programmes to fight poverty are betraying the country.
Speaking during the first sitting of the first session of Uganda’s 12th Parliament at the Kololo Independence Grounds, President Museveni said he was no longer willing to tolerate leaders who seek positions without helping the people they represent.
“I’m in a position to be very rough with people who want a level of leadership but don’t care about the people they lead. I have been talking for a long time, and I would just sound like a preacher. I have already laid a trap for all those people through programs on the ground,” President Museveni said.
The President said the government had already invested heavily in poverty eradication and wealth creation programmes across the country, questioning why some Ugandans remain poor despite the available support.
“I’m in a very bad mood. The capital is in each parish. Use it. Enough is enough. Every so-called leader must use the government programs to eliminate poverty and create wealth,” he cautioned.
President Museveni revealed that every parish currently has access to low-cost government capital intended to support household incomes and enterprise development.
“I have put money through government programs on the ground. As I speak, in every parish there is Shs 800 million of low-cost capital,” he said.
He directed leaders to return to their communities and monitor the implementation of programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), warning ministers that failure to improve livelihoods in their own villages could cost them their jobs.
“I don’t want to hear that there is poverty in homesteads that have land, and yet money is there at the parish level. If you are a minister and I come to your village and people are still suffering, I will sack you,” he warned.
The President added that he had been quietly monitoring leaders and was prepared to expose underperformers.
“I want to inform everybody that I have been monitoring, and I don’t want to embarrass mature people. The money is there on the ground, let’s use it to get our people out of poverty,” he said.
President Museveni also criticised leaders who spend time celebrating European football clubs while neglecting the plight of ordinary Ugandans.
“One of my people was inviting me to something called Arsenal. I said ‘What is Arsenal?’ That I should go and celebrate. Celebrate what?” he asked.
“Okay, you can have your Arsenal, but start with the people, please. How can you be celebrating European clubs when your people don’t have anything?” President Museveni added.
On the Ebola threat linked to the outbreak in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, the President urged Ugandans to avoid physical contact and observe preventive measures.
“Please set an example. There is a big problem in Congo. Let’s stop this business of shaking hands and so on. Ebola spreads through physical contact,” he said. “For me, I’ve not touched any of you,” he added.
The sitting also oversaw the election of Jacob Marksons Oboth as Speaker of Parliament after defeating Paul Mwiru and Norbert Mao.
Oboth secured 441 votes, while Mwiru garnered 60 and Mao received 15 votes.
After taking the oath before President Museveni, Speaker Oboth pledged to lead a corruption-free Parliament and promised stronger accountability for public resources.
“We shall hold the Executive and other government bodies accountable, but we must first begin with ourselves. Parliament must lead by example,” Oboth said.
Meanwhile, Thomas Tayebwa was elected Deputy Speaker after defeating Asinansi Nyakato and Sarah Aguti.
President Museveni later congratulated the new parliamentary leadership and praised Members of Parliament for conducting what he described as a transparent election process.