President Yoweri Museveni has called on leaders to urgently address persistent bottlenecks undermining government service delivery and Uganda’s socio-economic transformation. He cited sabotage of free education and healthcare, corruption, and land grabbing as the most pressing issues.
He made these remarks while meeting over 200 Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs), Town Clerks, and Under Secretaries at State House, Entebbe. The meeting followed a two-week leadership training at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi. The training, themed “Transformative Public Service: A Path to Development, Improved Service Delivery and Wealth Creation”, aimed to equip administrators with practical tools and ideological clarity for national transformation.
President Museveni listed several “irritants” eroding public trust in government programs. Chief among them is the illegal charging of fees in government-aided schools, which undermines the Universal Primary and Secondary Education (UPE and USE) policies.
“Why has the political class failed to see the importance of Bonna Basome (Education for All)?” he asked. “Head teachers are sabotaging our free education program by imposing illegal fees, which is pushing children out of school.”
He instructed CAOs and town clerks to strictly enforce the no-fees policy. He also discouraged the expansion of boarding schools under the guise of public education. “We don’t need boarding schools to provide free education. Let children sleep at home. These added costs are suffocating poor families,” he said.
On healthcare, the president condemned the widespread theft of drugs from government health centers. Despite gains in immunization against diseases like measles and polio, he said corruption continues to undermine progress. “The stealing of drugs is a big irritant. We must stop it. Immunization is working, but our people are still suffering because of this corruption,” he noted.
Turning to land issues, he strongly opposed land grabbing, especially when aided by rogue elements in security forces. He pledged to issue an Executive Order banning soldiers from participating in land disputes. “The army’s role is to protect Uganda’s borders—not patrol land boundaries,” he said.
President Museveni stressed that eliminating these service delivery failures would restore public confidence and accelerate development. He also revisited the NRM’s Four-Acre Model, developed in 1996, as a strategy for smallholder wealth creation. This model advises families to divide four acres among clonal coffee, fruit trees, dairy pasture, and food crops, while using backyard space for poultry, pigs, and fish farming.
“This model responds to both local and global market needs. It is the medicine for families with limited land,” he explained. He also contrasted this approach with extensive farming systems, such as tea or sugarcane, which require large land holdings to be profitable.
He concluded his remarks by urging public servants to lead with integrity and align their work with Uganda’s broader transformation agenda. “If you work only for the stomach and forget the pocket, you’ll remain poor. But if we combine free education, health, and wealth creation, Uganda will rise,” he said.
Minister of Local Government, Raphael Magyezi, applauded the Kyankwanzi training, calling it timely and impactful. He said the officers were now more energized and equipped to serve their communities better.
Speaking on behalf of the officers, Tororo District CAO Gabriel Atama thanked President Museveni for his leadership. He noted significant progress in service delivery under the president’s guidance, particularly in project coordination and the implementation of the NRM manifesto.
He cited major successes, including the Parish Development Model (PDM), under which 10,585 SACCOs have been registered, disbursing over UGX 2.6 trillion to benefit more than 2.6 million Ugandans. “This fulfills the NRM’s promise to empower grassroots communities and raise household incomes,” he said.
In education, Atama reported the completion of 259 hybrid seed secondary schools, which led to a 47% rise in enrollment in 2023 and an additional 18% in 2024. He added that girl-child enrollment now stands at nearly 50%, highlighting the government’s commitment to gender equality.
On health, he announced the construction of 321 new health units, which represent 84% of the term target, greatly improving maternal and child health across districts. He also noted progress in roads, special interest group empowerment, and governance reforms.
However, he raised concerns about challenges officers face. “Many of us serve far from our homes. We bear high transport costs and face low pay amid rising living expenses. These strain our ability to deliver effectively,” he explained. He called for improved facilitation and welfare packages for officers.
He reaffirmed CAOs’ role in mobilizing communities, supervising public programs, and ensuring accountability. “We remain committed to national development but ask for better support to meet expectations,” he said.
The meeting also drew key government figures, including Ms. Lucy Nakyobe, Head of Public Service, Minister for Presidency Babirye Milly Babalanda, State Minister for Local Government Victoria Rusoke Businge, and Permanent Secretary Ben Kumumanya, among others.
