Muntu assures Busoga women, youth on expanded economy to generate jobs

LUUKA - Presidential candidate Maj. Gen. (rtd) Mugisha Muntu has assured voters in Busoga region that his government will prioritise expanding the economy to generate jobs for youth and women.

"Busoga, with its fertile land, rare earth minerals and abundant water resources, has immense agricultural potential but lacks government will to expand the economic avenues to lift its people out of poverty," Muntu, the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) flag-bearer in the 2026 General Election, says.

Addressing a campaign rally at Kyanvuma trading centre, Magada ward, Kyama town council in Luuka district on December 11, 2025, Muntu said there is a need to transform Uganda's economy, focusing on agriculture, agro-processing and tourism to create employment opportunities.

“We will prioritise constructing skilling centres in every district in Busoga sub-region to equip our youth with market-relevant skills, enabling them to participate in the economy. I will set up co-operative movements to revise prices of sugar and guard against exploitation and monopoly,” Muntu emphasised. (All Photos by Isaac Nuwagaba)

“Forget about jobs for the youth and women if the Government does not have the will to expand the economy in whatever you are producing for food and money. You have been growing sugarcane for decades, but you have never come out of poverty because you are not empowered to add value to your sugarcane,” he said.

There has been a monopoly in the sugar market, and the existing government policies do not support you to start your own factories and market your own products to compete with investors who have monopolised the sugar industry, he added.

“We will prioritise constructing skilling centres in every district in Busoga sub-region to equip our youth with market-relevant skills, enabling them to participate in the economy. I will set up co-operative movements to revise prices of sugar and guard against exploitation and monopoly,” Muntu emphasised.

He added that his government would revive co-operative structures and establish a co-operative bank to support farmers and improve rural livelihoods.

Muntu said his vision is to add value to agricultural produce, creating jobs and increasing household incomes.

“We will establish a separate fund to provide cheap credit to farmers and allocate 10% of the national budget to agriculture,” he said.

Local leaders express concern over growing poverty levels.

The region has long struggled with poverty, and leaders are calling for inclusive growth and job creation.

Local leaders in Busoga expressed concern over the high levels of poverty in the region, citing limited access to education, healthcare and economic opportunities.

Speaking at a campaign rally, Farouk Musasira, the area chairperson for Kyanvuma cell, urged the Government to prioritise Busoga in national development plans, emphasising the need for infrastructure development, including roads and electricity.

“We are lagging compared to other regions in terms of development,” Musasira said. “We need the Government to invest in our people and infrastructure to improve their lives.”

The leaders also called for increased funding for agriculture, citing the region's potential for farming and agro-processing.

Oil, rare earth won’t benefit Busoga with poor governance still existing

"The discovery of oil and gas in Uganda and rare earth minerals in Busoga sparked excitement, but I want to warn you that the region will not benefit from these natural resources if poor governance persists," Muntu said.

Muntu insisted that corruption, mismanagement, and lack of transparency have characterised the current government's handling of natural resources, and that this must change if Busoga is to benefit from its oil and rare earth wealth.

"Our people are poor, and your region is underdeveloped," Muntu said.

“We need to see tangible benefits from our natural resources, but this will not happen if corruption and mismanagement under President Yoweri Museveni’s National Resistance Movement (NRM) government continue unchecked.”

Muntu cited examples of environmental degradation, displacement of communities, and lack of infrastructure development in areas where oil and rare earth minerals shall be extracted.

“We demand transparency and accountability in the management of our natural resources, and that’s why we are here seeking votes in Busoga,” Noah Tenywa said.

“We want to see a clear plan for how the revenue from oil and rare earth will be used to benefit our people and develop our region.”

“We will not allow our natural resources to be exploited by corrupt individuals and companies,” added Tenywa.

“We demand a fair share of the revenue and a say in how it shall be used to develop our region.”

The discovery of rare earth minerals in Busoga has raised hopes for economic transformation, but leaders are clear that this will only happen if governance improves and the region's natural resources are managed for the benefit of the people.