KAMPALA
Uganda’s opposition leader, Gen. Mugisha Muntu Greg, former presidential candidate for the Alliance for National Transition (ANT) in the recently concluded elections has cast doubt on the ability of the newly announced political leadership to address persistent challenges affecting Ugandans, citing unemployment, corruption in recruitment processes and chronic shortages in the health sector.
Speaking at a press conference at party headquarters in Bukoto, Kampala on Tuesday, Muntu said the change in political “dispensation” recently announced has not inspired confidence, arguing that the prevailing political culture and organisational weaknesses would limit meaningful reform.
“At a personal level, I highly doubt that the new leadership has the capacity to understand what is happening on the ground,” the opposition figure said, referring to the re-announcement of Gen. Museveni as president. “Many leaders are going into party politics, but they lack the ability to feel the real situation in communities, for instance in hospitals and in the provision of essential drugs.”
He noted that during recent engagements with citizens, particularly young people, throughout his nationwide presidential campaigns, the opposition encountered widespread frustration linked to joblessness and alleged corruption in recruitment.
“We met many youths who are frustrated because they are unemployed. The few jobs available are allegedly being sold. If you don’t have money, you don’t get a job,” he said.
The opposition leader further criticised what he described as poor management of public resources, arguing that funds that could address unemployment and health sector challenges are lost through questionable contracts.
“The problem is that after contracts are awarded, money that could cater for these challenges is wasted,” he said, adding that such issues are unlikely to be resolved under the current regime due to what he termed an “organisational crisis and mindset” within leadership.
He called for a fundamental change in leadership, urging that the country be led by “honest, talented men and women” who can generate wealth ethically while prioritising national development.
“This country must be taken over by people who know that you can make money, but in the right way,” he said.
The opposition leader revealed that his group is undertaking internal reviews and consultations and will soon unveil a programme outlining plans to mobilise across the country in pursuit of what he described as a national transformation agenda.
