Don’t politicise govt programmes, minister Nabakooba appeals
Nabakooba urged residents of Masaka city to use their elected National Resistance Movement (NRM) party leaders to access government programmes and services.
Lands minister Judith Nabakooba welcomed by women on August 16, 2026, during the Nkoni Deanery Catholic Women Guild celebrations at St Jude Catholic Parish in Bukoto, Masaka City. (Courtesy)
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Lands minister Judith Nabakooba has criticised what she described as “bad politics” that encourages people to reject government assistance based on the political colour associated with the programmes.
She made the remarks on August 16, 2026, during the Nkoni Deanery Catholic Women Guild celebrations at St Jude Catholic Parish in Bukoto, Masaka city.
“That bad politics is not taking you anywhere. It would even become worse if the items distributed are in yellow colour. Now, like a coffee farmer, how is yellow connected to having a tarpaulin for drying your coffee?” she asked.
Nabakooba urged residents of Masaka city to use their elected National Resistance Movement (NRM) party leaders to access government programmes and services.
She said residents had in the past failed to fully benefit from government initiatives because they elected opposition leaders, whom she accused of failing to lobby the central government for development projects.
“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 said.
Her remarks followed concerns from Catholic women leaders that, despite the Government introducing several programmes aimed at improving household incomes, many residents had not benefited.
The minister attributed some of the challenges to political differences, saying they had sometimes prevented people from accessing programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), distribution of coffee seedlings, hoes and tarpaulins.
“This time we believe things are going to change. In Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese where I come from, some leaders were rallying people against registering for PDM, the same people who could not give anyone a single coin,” she said.
She, however, cautioned leaders against discriminating against beneficiaries when distributing government support.
What others said
Rebecca Sseremba, the Bukoto Parish Catholic Women chairperson, told the minister that many of their members are single mothers carrying heavy responsibilities and appealed for government support through projects such as piggery, poultry, cattle rearing and coffee growing.
She said the women also run a savings and credit cooperative (SACCO) that requires government support to increase members’ savings and finance income-generating projects.
The group is also expanding its tents and chairs project, which Sseremba said could provide members with an additional source of income.
Masaka Diocese Catholic Women Guild chairperson Dorothy Nayiga said she was surprised to learn that no woman in Nkoni Deanery had benefited from the GROW project.
She urged leaders to ensure that government programmes are made accessible to women in the area.
Central Region Catholic women mobiliser Imelda Muwonge commended Nabakooba for supporting women and the Church.
She said the minister had helped lobby for agricultural machinery that the women expect to use to increase their incomes, including an incubator and coffee-making machine.
Muwonge also praised Nabakooba for remaining humble despite her position and maintaining her faith.
He encouraged women to keep family matters private, warning that sharing information about their marriages could undermine their respect in the community.
“A hardworking woman should have her own money and add value to her husband. What if your husband dies tomorrow? How will you take care of your children without him?” Fr Kamoga asked.
He encouraged women to form development groups and surround themselves with people who can challenge them to improve rather than groups where they are constantly praised.
Meanwhile, local leaders raised concerns about increasing land conflicts in Masaka, particularly cases involving widows allegedly being evicted from land by their in-laws.
Rosette Nansubuga, an NRM leader in Masaka city, said she had received several complaints from widows involved in land disputes.
“They are being taken to court where cases take years before they are heard. This means they have to put in money for transport to every court sitting, which they don’t have, and end up losing the case,” she said.
The leaders also called for greater sensitisation on land rights, saying some residents do not understand the difference between a landlord and a kibanja holder.
They further raised concerns over land fragmentation, which they said was contributing to the growth of unplanned settlements and slums, citing Misaali in Nyendo as an example.
In response, Nabakooba promised to organise sensitisation meetings to educate residents about land rights and procedures for resolving land disputes.
She said the Government had also put in place legal safeguards to protect the estates of deceased persons, including provisions under the Succession Act.
The minister urged residents to learn about their land rights and use lawful channels to resolve disputes instead of resorting to confrontation.