Museveni warns politicians on oversight failures during Shs 84.39 trillion budget presentation
He argued that elected leaders, regardless of political affiliation, have a duty to monitor government projects in their constituencies and ensure that public resources reach their intended beneficiarie
KAMPALA, June 11, 2026 — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on both the ruling National Resistance Movement [NRM] leaders and opposition politicians to take greater responsibility for monitoring government programmes and ensuring effective service delivery, warning that leaders who fail to oversee public initiatives should be held accountable.
Museveni made the remarks on Thursday during the presentation of Uganda’s Shs 84.39 trillion national budget for the 2026/27 financial year [FY] at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.
The budget was presented by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Henry Musasizi. It focuses on accelerating economic growth, improving service delivery and supporting productive sectors as Uganda pursues its ambition of becoming a high-growth, middle-income economy.
Museveni said Uganda had made significant economic progress but stressed that weaknesses in implementation and supervision continued to undermine government programmes.
“We are to demand performance from both the NRM and also the opposition. As long as you are getting money from the government, you must check what is happening on the ground,” he said.
He argued that elected leaders, regardless of political affiliation, have a duty to monitor government projects in their constituencies and ensure that public resources reach their intended beneficiaries.
He cited persistent complaints about the theft of funds under the Parish Development Model [PDM], saying he encountered similar grievances during recent election campaigns in different parts of the country.
“People were complaining that their PDM money had been stolen. I found the same complaints in Maracha, Kween, Kampala, Kawempe… What are the Members of Parliament doing? What are local leaders doing?” he asked.
Museveni warned that government officials, local leaders and legislators who neglect their monitoring responsibilities would increasingly come under scrutiny.
“I will ask the Attorney General to see how I can deal with leaders who are paid to monitor but do not do their work,” he said.
He stressed the need to move the remaining 33 per cent of Ugandans who are still outside the money economy into productive economic activity, describing this as the country’s most pressing development challenge despite the economic gains recorded over the years.
“For now, let all political leaders take the lead in getting the 33 per cent of our people who are outside the money economy to join the money economy,” he said.
Museveni traced Uganda’s economic journey from the colonial era, noting that by Independence in 1962, only about nine per cent of Ugandan households participated in the money economy, while 91 per cent remained in subsistence production.
According to him, progress has been gradual, with participation increasing to 32 per cent by 2013 before rising to the current 67 per cent through initiatives such as Operation Wealth Creation and the PDM.
“Although we have done well, we could have done much better. The challenge now is the 33 per cent who are still outside the money economy,” he said.
Museveni directed ministers, Members of Parliament and local government leaders to actively monitor PDM implementation parish by parish to ensure that funds are not stolen and that beneficiaries are supported to generate income.
“The eyes of the dead body are the eyes of the one carrying it,” he said, invoking a Banyankore proverb to emphasise leadership responsibility.
Wealth Creation
Presenting the budget, Musasizi said the government remains committed to transforming household incomes and expanding economic participation in the new FY that begins on July 1, 2026.
He disclosed that over the last five years, the government has transferred Shs 4.4 trillion as revolving capital to all 10,589 parishes under the PDM.
“To date, the government has invested close to Shs 11 trillion directly into wealth-creation initiatives targeting households in the subsistence economy, farmers, youth, women and businesses,” Musasizi said.
The minister described the PDM as the government’s most important intervention for eliminating subsistence production and expanding participation in the money economy.
He also announced strong growth in domestic revenue mobilisation.
“In FY2026/2027, domestic revenue is projected to increase to Shs 45.6 trillion from Shs 35.7 trillion in FY2025/2026, equivalent to 15.9 per cent of GDP,” Musasizi said.
The additional resources, he noted, will support wealth-creation programmes, agricultural transformation initiatives and infrastructure development.
The government projects Uganda’s economy to grow by 10.2 per cent next financial year, up from the current growth rate of 6.4 per cent, largely driven by petroleum production and continued investment in productive sectors.
Museveni described the current performance as impressive by global standards but maintained that the country has the potential to achieve even stronger growth.
“Uganda is a very rich country. We have enormous potential and we have only begun to tap it,” he said.
He dismissed criticism that the government is spreading investments too broadly, arguing that Uganda possesses diverse natural resources and opportunities, unlike countries that specialised in only a few sectors during their industrialisation.
He emphasised that the African market remains critical to Uganda’s future prosperity.
“When you produce, you must sell. Africa is our sure market,” he said.
Optimism over oil revenues and strategic infrastructure
Museveni expressed optimism about the economic transformation expected from Uganda’s emerging petroleum sector. He revealed that the government expects to earn approximately US$1.5 billion annually from its share of oil revenues once production begins.
Part of the revenue, he said, will be invested in a sovereign wealth fund, while another portion will finance strategic infrastructure projects.
“We need to create a sovereign fund so that the money can earn more money, as countries like Norway have done,” Museveni said.
He identified regional railway networks linking Uganda to Kenya, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC], South Sudan and Rwanda as priority investments.
According to him, shifting heavy cargo transportation from roads to railways and pipelines will significantly reduce transport costs and enhance regional competitiveness.
Museveni defends trade order and environmental protection
The President also defended government efforts to remove traders from road reserves and protect wetlands from encroachment. He criticised politicians who oppose enforcement measures aimed at restoring urban order and environmental conservation.
“The road is for vehicles. The sidewalks are for pedestrians. Markets are for selling goods,” he said.
Museveni warned that continued destruction of wetlands threatens Uganda’s ecological balance and long-term sustainability.
“The swamp is for water. It is not for rice, sweet potatoes or buildings,” he said.
He blamed decades of environmental degradation on political opportunism and called for stricter enforcement of conservation laws.
Ebola situation steadily improving
Addressing the ongoing Ebola outbreak, Museveni assured Ugandans that the situation remains under control and can be contained through vigilance and responsible behaviour.
He disclosed that Uganda has recorded 19 cases so far, including 14 Congolese nationals and five Ugandans.
According to the President, two people have died, while several others have recovered and been discharged. Four Congolese patients and one Ugandan have already recovered, while the remaining patients are showing signs of improvement.
“In the last five days there has been no new case,” Museveni said.
He explained that, unlike COVID-19, Ebola spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids rather than through the air, making it easier to contain.
He urged Ugandans to avoid unnecessary physical contact, including handshakes and hugs, and to report symptoms early for treatment.
“Ebola is not a serious problem if people follow the guidelines. It is easy to avoid, and patients can recover if they receive treatment early,” he said.
Museveni also revealed that Uganda and the DRC are working together to establish screening and treatment facilities near border areas to prevent cross-border transmission.
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