Nabakooba Advises Masaka Residents to Leverage NRM Leaders for Government Programs

Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Judith Nabakooba, has called upon the residents of Masaka City to actively engage with their locally elected National Resistance Movement (NRM) representatives. The objective is to ensure better access to the various government programs and services designed to foster development.

Ms. Nabakooba articulated that historically, many residents in the area have not fully reaped the benefits of government initiatives. She attributed this to a prevailing trend of electing opposition leaders, who she suggested, were less effective in lobbying for development projects from the central government. “You have Masaka City Woman MP Justine Nameere. She is going to link you to the national cake. Be ready to feel the real development,” Nabakooba stated.

Her remarks came during the Nkoni Deanery Catholic Women Guild celebrations held at St. Jude Catholic Parish in Bukoto, Masaka City. The minister’s address followed concerns raised by Catholic women leaders regarding the limited reach of government programs aimed at improving household incomes within the region.

Nabakooba highlighted that political affiliations had sometimes created barriers for citizens seeking to benefit from initiatives like the Parish Development Model, and the distribution of agricultural inputs such as coffee seedlings, hoes, and tarpaulins. She expressed optimism for change, recalling instances in her home diocese where some leaders discouraged participation in the PDM.

Leaders present, including Rebecca Sseremba, the Bukoto Parish Catholic Women chairperson, appealed for specific support for single mothers, requesting assistance with projects like piggery, poultry, cattle rearing, and coffee growing. They also sought government backing for their savings and credit cooperative and their expanding tent and chairs business.

Dorothy Nayiga, Masaka Diocese Catholic Women Guild chairperson, expressed surprise that no women in the Nkoni Deanery had yet benefited from the GROW project.

Masaka has traditionally been an opposition stronghold, though recent elections saw the NRM gain significant ground, securing numerous district chairperson and parliamentary seats in the sub-region.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)