President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has told residents of Rubaga that responsibility for poor service delivery, including failure to access Parish Development Model (PDM) funds, lies with the leaders they elect, insisting that he did not choose the area’s opposition legislator.
Speaking during a rally in Rubaga on Monday, Museveni responded to complaints from residents who said some people had not benefited from PDM funds meant to support household-level wealth creation.
The President reminded the gathering that Members of Parliament are elected by voters, not appointed by him.
“As for the Rubaga South MP, I said clearly that I did not choose him; they did, so accountability lies with those who made that choice,” Museveni said, referring to the area’s legislator, Aloysius Mukasa of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP). “As the saying goes, eyetuze tebamukabira (they don’t cry for a person who hangs him/herself),” he added, suggesting that people must take responsibility for the consequences of their own decisions.
Mukasa has represented Rubaga South in the 11th Parliament (2021–2026) on the NUP ticket. Ahead of the 2026 general elections, he failed to secure the party’s flag and has since been nominated to contest as an independent candidate, while NUP has fronted Eugenia Nassolo as its flagbearer.
Museveni’s remarks came as residents raised concerns about accountability and alleged mismanagement of government development funds at the parish level.
The President stressed that the money for PDM and Emyooga is available, but warned that corruption by local leaders and officials was undermining the programmes.
“The money for the Parish Development Model and Emyooga is there, and the people who steal that money can be easily arrested because they are here with us in Uganda,” Museveni said earlier at a rally at Entebbe Municipality playgrounds in Wakiso District.
He urged citizens to closely monitor the utilisation of government funds and report those who misuse them.
The President also revealed that the government has increased PDM funding to Shs300 million per parish and established additional special funds targeting leaders, market vendors, mechanics and fisheries, aimed at boosting incomes and livelihoods.
He called on communities to “own” the PDM programme as a way of countering corruption by officials.
In Rubaga, Museveni also dismissed claims that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government has done little for Buganda, saying there has been visible progress under NRM across different sectors.
He cited infrastructure development and wealth creation initiatives as evidence of government commitment.
On the long-standing Natete Market issue, the President stated that people who vacated the land should be fairly compensated.
He also thanked Pastor Joseph Serwadda Kayanja for the prayers offered at the rally and for drawing lessons from the biblical story of Naaman’s healing. “As we go forward, Uganda will continue on a path of cleansing, renewal and development,” Museveni said.
The President, who is also the NRM presidential flagbearer for the 2026 general elections, cautioned voters against what he described as opportunistic opposition politicians who frustrate government programmes, urging them to support NRM candidates for what he termed effective service delivery and accountability.
