KAMPALA, Uganda — Recently, President Yoweri Museveni warned that he would sack ministers whose villages he visits and still finds people trapped in poverty. His statement raises an important national conversation that Uganda can no longer avoid.
If poverty still exists in villages after decades of leadership structures from LC1 to Cabinet level, what exactly is failing?
Uganda is one of the most politically structured countries in Africa. Every village has LC1 leaders. Every parish, subcounty, district and city has elected representatives, resident district commissioners, councilors, technical officers and members of Parliament. The country also has one of the largest Cabinets on the continent.
Yet despite this extensive leadership structure, millions of ordinary Ugandans continue struggling with unemployment, poor healthcare services, weak education systems, dilapidated roads and low household incomes.
The president’s frustration therefore reflects a deeper reality: leadership positions alone cannot automatically translate into transformation.
The bigger question Ugandans should ask is whether our leaders are measured by loyalty and longevity, or by actual results in people’s lives.
If a minister is expected to transform his or her village, does it then mean every village in Uganda requires a minister to escape poverty? What happens to areas without politically connected leaders? Development should never depend on whether a powerful individual comes from a particular area. National systems should work fairly for every citizen regardless of tribe, religion, region or political affiliation.
For decades, some leaders have remained in top government positions for generations. Gen. Moses Ali, for example, has served in government leadership since the 1970s. While experience in leadership can be valuable, public service must also create room for renewal, fresh energy, innovation, competence and measurable impact. No country can sustainably depend on the same individuals indefinitely while expecting different outcomes.
A nation develops through strong institutions, not permanent personalities.
Uganda’s young population is watching carefully. Many educated youth remain unemployed. Farmers still lack stable markets. Tourism, agriculture and local industries continue struggling with financing, infrastructure and policy implementation gaps. Meanwhile, political offices and ceremonial leadership structures continue expanding, often accompanied by enormous public expenditure to sustain lifestyles that appear disconnected from the struggles of ordinary citizens.
The future demands a shift from the politics of survival to the politics of results. Leaders at every level, from LC1 to Cabinet, should be evaluated based on service delivery, competence, integrity, innovation and measurable transformation in people’s lives.
As the president considers future Cabinet appointments and government restructuring, this may also be the moment to rethink the philosophy behind public appointments. Uganda needs national leaders who are committed to service delivery, technically skilled, knowledgeable and capable of managing modern governance challenges.
Ministerial appointments should not merely become rewards for political loyalty, historical friendships, regional balancing or tribal considerations. They should be positions of national duty entrusted to individuals with the vision, discipline, patriotism and competence to deliver results for all Ugandans. Public office should never become a lifetime entitlement but a responsibility tied to performance, accountability and legacy.
Uganda possesses enormous fertile land, natural resources, tourism potential, energetic youth and a strategic geographical advantage. What remains is building leadership systems that consistently convert this national potential into improved living conditions for ordinary citizens.
The writer, Isa Kato, is a public commentator.
