Mpigi, Uganda: President Museveni has acknowledged persistent challenges of corruption, medicine shortages in public hospitals, and delays in Parish Development Model (PDM) funds, calling for stronger accountability by elected leaders during his second campaign rally in Mpigi District.
Addressing supporters at the rally, Museveni said concerns were raised by young people, whom he referred to as bazzukulu, as he travelled to Mpigi, highlighting frustrations over healthcare services and access to government wealth-creation funds.
“On my way here, I met some of my bazzukulu who raised concerns about medicine shortages in hospitals and PDM money not reaching them,” Museveni told the crowd. “Corruption is not new; even during colonial times some abaami abused authority.”
The President said the National Resistance Movement (NRM) deliberately devolved power to the people through elected leadership structures, from Local Council I to Parliament, to ensure public resources are protected and leaders held accountable.
“That is why we returned power to the people through elected leaders,” Museveni said. “Government mobilises and allocates resources, but protecting them is the responsibility of all of us through accountable leadership.”
Museveni reflected on the early years of the National Resistance Council (NRC), noting that local leaders were directly elected and answerable to the people they served.
“In the NRC days, leaders were elected and directly accountable,” he said, adding that the country may need to revisit the right of recall to enable citizens to remove leaders who fail to serve their interests.
“We may need to revisit the right of recall so wananchi can hold leaders accountable,” Museveni said.
The President urged citizens to actively participate in the fight against corruption by providing credible evidence against those who misuse public resources, rather than remaining silent.
“Let us work together, using credible evidence, to defeat corruption,” he said.
Museveni’s Mpigi rally formed part of his ongoing central Uganda campaign tour, where governance, service delivery, and accountability have featured prominently alongside economic empowerment messages tied to PDM and other government programmes.
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