By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged residents of Kampala to vote for candidates from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party in the coming elections if they are to benefit from government programs.
Speaking during the commissioning of Busega Market in Rubaga Division on Tuesday, President Museveni criticized opposition leaders for failing to represent their constituents’ concerns effectively.
“I didn’t know that the people of Busega and Nateete were living under such conditions,” Museveni said. “I thought Nateete had good roads. I didn’t know you are affected by floods. This is because you don’t have leaders who prioritize your problems. You voted for the opposition. They are busy accumulating wealth in Parliament instead of raising your issues. It is the role of your MPs to tell me your problems, but there is no one here. I don’t even know who your area MP is.”
He urged residents to make better electoral decisions, saying, “In the coming elections, vote wisely. Choose leaders who will work with the government and whom I can work with. Vote NRM candidates.”
The President also officially launched the monitoring exercise for the Parish Development Model (PDM) implementation in Kampala. The week-long exercise, which runs from July 14 to July 20, aims to assess the rollout and impact of the government’s flagship poverty eradication initiative. He was accompanied by First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni.
Reiterating his long-standing call for self-reliance, President Museveni urged citizens to embrace hard work and economic productivity, warning that laziness will not be tolerated.
While on his tour, the President also visited Bakitende Experts Garage in Kivumbi Zone, Nateete-Wakaliga, where he pledged to support the workshop with modern equipment, car carriers, breakdown trucks, and to purchase land for their operations.
Muhammad Mukasa Sonko, chairperson of Bakitende Experts Garage, welcomed the presidential pledge, saying it would enable them to expand vocational training opportunities for youth, including school dropouts, street children, and women.
In a further boost to local enterprise, the President donated Shs100 million each to four savings and credit cooperative organizations (SACCOs) in Busega namely the Fishermen’s SACCO, Busega Taxi Operators SACCO, Busega Market Vendors SACCO, and Shs50 million to the Busega Muslim SACCO.
Additionally, SACCOs for women service providers and spare parts dealers in the 13 parishes that make up Rubaga Division each received Shs20 million to support local economic initiatives. NRM chairpersons in each of the zones he visited were also given Shs12 million to buy tricycles.
President Museveni’s PDM tour continues today in Busabala.
