Iganga, Uganda: President Yoweri Museveni has attributed persistent poverty in Busoga to weak leadership, saying government programmes are in place and effective, but fail where communities elect unaccountable leaders.
Speaking during a meeting with leaders from Busoga at Iganga Girls Secondary School, Mr Museveni said the National Resistance Movement government has over the years rolled out multiple wealth creation initiatives, including Entandikwa, NAADS, Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), Youth and Women Funds, Emyooga and the Uganda Development Bank, particularly targeting production and the service sector.
He said the Parish Development Model (PDM) represents a deeper shift in approach by directly empowering citizens through locally elected committees, placing control of resources at household and parish level.
“Where problems arise, the issue is leadership,” Museveni said, stressing that under PDM, power has been decentralised to beneficiaries themselves, making leadership choices at local level decisive.
The President cited a case from Busoga involving a resident identified as Basangwa, whom he said he previously advised to abandon political infighting and instead focus on wealth creation.
“He listened, concentrated on enterprise, and today runs a large poultry business employing over 300 people. This is how jobs are created,” Museveni said.
The President added that investors only commit resources to areas with peace, stability and clear policy direction, noting that once investment flows in, employment opportunities naturally follow.
Museveni urged voters to prioritise ideology and accountability when choosing leaders, arguing that poverty persists where leadership fails to mobilise communities toward production and wealth creation rather than political confrontation.
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