Kampala, Uganda: Former presidential candidate John Katumba has blamed Uganda’s persistent poverty on what he described as the “white saviour mentality,” arguing that many citizens have resigned their future to foreign intervention rather than embracing indigenous solutions.
Speaking in a recent interview, Katumba, who was the youngest contender in Uganda’s 2021 presidential race, said he has since returned to the drawing board, gathered more experience, and is now more prepared to lead.
“The problem that has made Ugandans poor is thinking that their savior is going to be white,” Katumba said. “We may be overlooked, but we are going to get this country out of bondage.”
He noted that many Ugandans underestimate young local leaders with fresh ideas but place undue hope in foreign donors or interventions that have historically failed to address core challenges.
Katumba, who was once dismissed by critics as a political comedian during the 2021 elections, insists he is now a more grounded and focused leader, ready to confront Uganda’s poverty head-on—if given the opportunity and support from the electorate.
“As a young black man promising to defeat President Museveni, I often get overlooked by my own people. But I believe that with the right mindset shift, we can fix this country ourselves,” he added.
He urged Ugandans, particularly the youth, to change their mindset, stop waiting for outside help, and rally behind homegrown leadership committed to transforming the country from within.
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