Museveni Urges MPs to Strengthen Oversight on Government Programs

President Yoweri Museveni has urged legislators, regardless of their political affiliation, to take a more proactive role in overseeing government initiatives. Speaking during the reading of Uganda’s Shs84.4 trillion national budget for the Financial Year 2026/27, Museveni emphasized that accountability for public funds and the success of government programs hinge on robust implementation and supervision.

“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,” the President stated. He highlighted persistent complaints regarding the theft of funds intended for the Parish Development Model (PDM), noting he encountered these grievances across various regions during recent campaigns.

Museveni warned that leaders who fail in their monitoring duties would face increased scrutiny. He indicated that he would consult the Attorney General on measures to hold accountable those “paid to monitor but do not do their work.” This call for enhanced oversight comes as the nation aims to integrate the remaining 33 percent of Ugandans still outside the formal money economy into productive economic activities.

The President recounted Uganda’s economic progress since Independence, noting the shift from 9 percent to the current 67 percent of households participating in the money economy, partly due to initiatives like Operation Wealth Creation and the PDM. He directed ministers, MPs, and local government leaders to meticulously monitor PDM implementation at the parish level to prevent fund misappropriation and ensure beneficiaries are supported to earn sustainable incomes.

Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Matia Kasaija, reiterated the government’s commitment to transforming household incomes and expanding economic participation. He highlighted the Shs4.4 trillion transferred to all parishes under the PDM and the nearly Shs11 trillion invested in wealth-creation initiatives over the past five years, positioning the PDM as a key strategy for eradicating subsistence living.

This budget emphasizes wealth creation as a cornerstone for national development, with a renewed focus on parliamentary and local leadership to ensure its effective execution. For more details, please refer to the original article from Nile Post.