President Yoweri Museveni has issued a stern warning to ministers and local leaders, threatening dismissal for those who fail to lift their communities out of poverty despite the availability of government funding.
Speaking on Monday during the first sitting of the 12th Parliament at Kololo Independence Grounds, the President signaled a tougher stance on accountability and service delivery.
The session, convened following a formal proclamation read by Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige, also saw Members of Parliament elect new leadership, including the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
However, it was Museveni’s sharp remarks on poverty and leadership performance that dominated proceedings.
“I’m in a position to be very rough with people who want a level of leadership but don’t care about the people they lead. I have been talking for a long time, and I would just sound like a preacher. I have already laid a trap for all those people through programs on the ground,” Museveni said.
The President expressed frustration over the persistence of poverty in parts of the country, despite sustained government investment at the grassroots level.
He pointed to ongoing initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), which channels funds directly to local communities to stimulate economic activity and household income.
“I’m in a very bad mood. The capital is there at each parish. Use it. Enough is enough. Every so called leader must use the government programs to eliminate poverty and create wealth,” he cautioned.
Museveni emphasized that significant financial resources had already been disbursed to support local development.
According to him, each parish has access to approximately Shs 800 million in low-cost capital intended to boost productivity and improve livelihoods.
“I have put money through government programs on the ground. As I speak, in every parish there is Shs 800 million of low-cost capital,” he stated.
He urged leaders to take personal responsibility in ensuring that these funds translate into tangible improvements in their constituencies.
The President advised ministers and other officials to return to their areas and closely monitor how the funds are being utilized, particularly under the PDM framework.
“I don’t want to hear that there is poverty in homesteads that have land and yet money is there at parish level. If you are a minister and I come to your village and people are still suffering, I will sack you,” Museveni warned.
The remarks underscore growing pressure within government ranks to demonstrate results from flagship anti-poverty programs.
While the PDM has been promoted as a key vehicle for economic transformation, concerns have persisted about implementation gaps, accountability, and the pace of impact on ordinary citizens.
Museveni revealed that his office has been actively monitoring progress on the ground, suggesting that underperforming leaders could soon face consequences.
“I want to inform everybody that I have been monitoring and I don’t want to embarrass mature people. The money is there on the ground, let’s use it to get our people out of poverty,” he added.
The President’s comments set a confrontational tone for the new parliamentary term, signaling that performance, particularly in tackling poverty, will be a central measure of leadership going forward.