Mugisha Muntu says Uganda needs value-driven leaders

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Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) presidential candidate Maj. Gen. (rtd) Mugisha Muntu has emphasised the need for value-driven leaders to steer Uganda towards a brighter future.

Speaking after his nomination at a welcoming press conference at ANT party headquarters in Bukoto, Kampala city, Muntu criticised the current leadership under President Yoweri Museveni, saying that corruption and poor governance have held the country back.

Presidential candidate Maj. Gen. Rtd Gregory Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance of National Transformation (ANT) arriving at the party headquaters in Bukoto after being nominated. (Photo by Isaac Nuwagaba)

The former Uganda army commander, who insisted that Uganda is stuck in poverty due to what he termed as poor leadership, emphasised that the country needs leaders who will prioritise the welfare of its citizens rather than lining their own pockets.

“Uganda is stuck in poverty because of poor leadership. We need value-driven leaders. There is enough in this country, and the poverty we have in this country is not because we do not have resources but because leaders are not our servants," Muntu said.

Muntu emphasised that the country needs leaders who will prioritise the welfare of its citizens, rather than lining their own pockets for filling. Uganda has fresh water bodies, rivers, rich soils, oil, copper, bauxite, tea, gold and rare earth minerals in Busoga worth $15 trillion, but when thieves get into power, Ugandans will forget service delivery.

“There is no way this country will get back on track of sanity unless you have men and women who are ready to stand and resist the temptation of money, power and weapons, and we are here. Trust us with power and we shall not betray you,” he promised.

By voting for us in 2026, you shall not be testing us because we are already tested and approved, Muntu added.

“Because of power, pomp and glory, President Museveni used money to buy off some of our people who fought with us in the bush, and I saw my colleagues breaking down one by one. Instead of strengthening them, he used their weaknesses to crack them, and that is the mess we are in now,” he observed.

You saw what happened in Kololo Independence Grounds, where the NRM central executive members were buying delegates like goats at the national level. This is why we seek elections such that we can work as a team to fight corruption out of power, he highlighted.

Maj. Gen. Rtd Gregory Mugisha Muntu dancing with his supporters at the ANT headquarters after his nomination. (Photo by Isaac Nuwagaba)

“What do you think will happen differently if Uganda starts getting oil money and rare earth mineral wealth from Busoga, which is in excess of $15 trillion when such thieves are still in power?” he asked.

Land grabbing will escalate if you keep NRM in power

Muntu told voters that they risk losing their land if they don't vote NRM out of power.

Your land can be taken by someone who either has access to weapons and soldiers, or if they have money, there is no way you will ever get your property back, he claimed.

“They will either intimidate you or they will buy you at the level of police, buy you at the level of prosecutions or at trial and you can never access justice if you keep NRM in power,” he warned.

It should be noted, however, that the Government has put in place several mechanisms of fighting land grabbing across the country starting with the lands ministry.

Muntu's vision for Uganda is one of peace, justice, and prosperity. "Peace is not merely the absence of war; it is the presence of justice," he said, emphasising the need for a fair and just society.

He also criticised the government over the continued detention of Opposition leaders, including Dr Kizza Besigye, and NUP supporters, whose trial is taking too long.

Muntu now joins six other candidates attempting to dislodge President Yoweri Museveni from the presidential seat.