KAMPALA, Uganda — President Yoweri Museveni has issued a stern warning to yet-to-be-appointed cabinet officials, saying they risk dismissal if they fail to use their positions to lift citizens out of poverty.
Speaking shortly after the election of Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth as Speaker and Thomas Tayebwa as Deputy Speaker of Uganda’s 12th Parliament at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on Monday, Museveni signalled a tougher approach to leadership accountability.
“Enough is enough,” the President declared, saying he was now in a “very bad mood” over persistent poverty despite years of government intervention and billions of shillings invested in national programmes.
Museveni said he would no longer tolerate leaders who pursue positions of authority while neglecting the welfare of the people they represent.
“In the past, I’ve been polite… But now, as President of Uganda and chairman of the NRM, I will be very, very rough with people who want titles but don’t want to help,” he said.
The President argued that successive government initiatives, from Entandikwa and Operation Wealth Creation to the Parish Development Model (PDM), have already provided sufficient tools to drive economic transformation at the grassroots.
He pointed to the Parish Development Model (PDM) as a key instrument, noting that each parish now has access to substantial revolving funds aimed at boosting household incomes.
Museveni warned that ministers and political leaders would increasingly be judged based on the economic conditions of their constituencies.
“If I come to your area and I find that you have not helped your people, I will sack you,” he said.
The President also criticised what he described as misplaced priorities among some leaders, questioning why politicians focus on leisure and foreign interests while communities struggle economically.
“How can you be celebrating European clubs when your people don’t have jobs and are living in poverty?” he asked, in an apparent reference to recent football-related celebrations.
Throughout his remarks, Museveni cited examples of individuals who had benefited from government-backed initiatives, arguing that poverty can be reduced if leaders actively mobilise citizens to take advantage of available programmes.
Although Museveni did not directly name any individual, his remarks come against the backdrop of heightened scrutiny of public officials, including former Speaker Anita Annet Among, who withdrew from the Speakership race amid ongoing investigations and public criticism over parliamentary spending.
Also Read: Museveni praises Salim Saleh’s war legacy, warns corrupt officials of crackdown
Analysts say the President’s repeated references to leaders seeking “titles” without delivering services may be interpreted as a broader message to the political class.
However, there was no explicit indication in the speech that his comments were directed at any specific individual.
Museveni’s warning marks one of his strongest public signals yet on performance-based leadership accountability.
Whether the tougher rhetoric will translate into concrete action, including dismissals of underperforming officials, remains to be seen.
