Museveni meeting with Masaka Movement leaders
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I President Yoweri Museveni has praised the victory of Justine Nameere, saying her election followed a legitimate vote recount after allegations of attempted rigging in the Masaka City Woman Member of Parliament race.
Speaking during a meeting with National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders from the Greater Masaka region at the State Lodge Masaka on Wednesday, the President commended Nameere for her determination in demanding transparency during the vote tallying process.
“When she contested for the Masaka City Woman MP seat, there were attempts to rig the votes but she insisted on a recount, and when the votes were counted again, she won. That shows courage,” Museveni said.
The meeting, organised by Nameere, brought together NRM leaders from the region to discuss governance, development priorities and mobilisation of communities to support government programmes.
Museveni used the occasion to urge leaders to shift their focus from endless political arguments to addressing the pressing needs of ordinary citizens.
“It is unfortunate how some leaders waste time in Parliament talking instead of looking at the real issues and reaching the ordinary people. Leaders must expose wrongdoing and demand solutions to the problems affecting the wananchi,” the President said.
He warned that failure by leaders to speak out against corruption, particularly at district and local government levels, undermines public trust and weakens service delivery.
“Keeping quiet about thieves and corruption in your areas is unacceptable. If leaders at the district level are corrupt and Members of Parliament fear to expose them, then the whole system rots,” he added.
The President also challenged NRM leaders to confidently defend and explain the achievements of the government rather than remaining silent out of fear of criticism.
“Some NRM leaders fear to talk about the achievements of the government because they worry about criticism from the population. This is wrong. Instead of keeping quiet, you should promote government programmes and explain what has been achieved,” Museveni said.
On national cohesion, the President cautioned leaders against sectarianism, which he described as a dangerous force capable of dividing communities along tribal and religious lines.
“The other poison is sectarianism, dividing people based on religion and tribe. This is dangerous and we must not allow it,” he emphasised.
Museveni also shared a personal story to illustrate the importance of cooperation among people from different backgrounds in building the country.
He recalled how his father managed to pay his school fees in the 1950s and 1960s by selling cattle in monthly auction markets in Ntungamo.
“I went to school in the 1950s and 1960s because my father was able to pay the school fees by selling cattle in the monthly auction markets of Ntungamo. The buyers were businessmen from different backgrounds, including Walusimbi-Mpanga from Kampala, Bukyenya from Mbarara and Shear, a Muzungu operating from Ishaka who supplied cattle to feed miners at Kilembe,” Museveni said.
“Who, then, supported my education apart from my father? Certainly not only the Banyankore or my church denomination,” he added, noting that Uganda’s development has historically depended on cooperation among diverse communities.
The President further called on leaders to intensify mobilisation of citizens to participate in government wealth creation initiatives, particularly the Parish Development Model and Operation Wealth Creation.
“NRM has always focused on the real issues affecting the people. In the past we faced challenges like insecurity, lack of schools and health centres. Today the main issue we are fighting is poverty,” he said.
Museveni explained that the Parish Development Model was designed to ensure government financial support reaches households directly through parish-level structures.
“We decided that those above 18 years should engage with the PDM funds at the parish level because districts and sub-counties were too far from the ordinary person,” he noted.
In her remarks, Nameere thanked the President for meeting the regional leaders and for his continued guidance.
“I want to thank the President for sparing time to meet us and for the wise counsel he has given to us as leaders. His guidance will help us refocus on serving our people and promoting the government programmes meant to improve the livelihoods of the wananchi,” she said.
Nameere also pledged to continue mobilising leaders and communities in Masaka to support government initiatives aimed at combating poverty and accelerating development in the region.
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