Muntu condemns frustrated youth resorting to betting to earn a living

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Maj. Gen. (rtd) Mugisha Muntu, the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) presidential candidate, has condemned the growing trend of young Ugandans turning to sports betting as a means of survival, warning that the habit is deepening poverty and undermining the country’s future.

Addressing voters at Katakwi B in Katakwi town council, Katakwi district, Muntu painted a bleak picture, noting that more than 60 per cent of unemployed Ugandans aged between 18 and 50 have increasingly abandoned farming, vocational training and small business ventures in favour of online and street-side betting shops.

“I have seen young men and women stake their last shilling, sell family assets, and even turn to crime to chase a dream that never materialises,” Muntu said, his voice carrying over the hum of the crowd.

Muntu, who joined a team of youths and elderly men, including boda-boda riders, playing the Ludo game on November 15, 2025, urged young people to avoid activities that divert them from working and earning a living through a consistent approach to life.

“Uganda is heading to a slippery path of uncertainty because of neglecting statistical data and past history of what bad governance can do if people and the government failed to follow a deliberate plan to construct a country based on justice and the rule of law,” he said.

He warned that youth unemployment and idleness would breed insecurity and destroy the foundations of peace that were laid when he and others fought in the Luwero bushes as young men.

Muntu’s concerns echo recent findings by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), which show that betting revenue rose to sh2.3 trillion in the 2024 to 2025 financial year, marking a 38 per cent increase from the previous year, while youth unemployment remains high at 31 per cent.


The vicious cycle of poverty and gambling

Betting companies have expanded rapidly, using aggressive advertising that targets rural communities through mobile money applications installed on smartphones.

A study by the Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDL) found that one in three regular gamblers among the youth loses an average of sh150,000 per month, money that could otherwise support education, health needs or small-scale enterprises.

Muntu linked the rise in betting to systemic failures in education and employment. “Our school curricula are outdated, our technical institutes lack equipment, and the private sector is not creating jobs,” he said.

He added that the government’s recent increase in taxes on mobile money transactions has inadvertently pushed more youths towards betting apps, which often bypass formal financial channels.

Bodaboda riders confess

At the rally, several young people shared personal struggles. John Bosco, a 24-year-old boda-boda rider from Toroma Trading Centre in Katakwi district, said he lost his motorcycle after borrowing sh800,000 to place a bet.

“I thought I could win and pay off my loan. Instead, I am now in debt and my family has been evicted,” he said.

Betty Achan, 27, who runs a small poultry farm, encouraged her peers to seek alternative livelihoods. “My neighbour lost his house after betting. We need skills, not shortcuts,” she said.

Muntu’s five-pillar solution

Muntu restated his five-point agenda for Uganda’s development, placing youth empowerment at its centre. He said the plan includes providing affordable credit and tractor hire services to promote mechanised farming.

“We shall set up agro-processing plants in every subcounty to create jobs and fast-track tarmac upgrades, including the 37 km Toroma to Soroti road.”

He also promised inclusive governance to curb corruption and reform security agencies to ensure transparency in resource allocation.

Muntu pledged to establish a national youth skills fund to support training in welding, Information Communication Technology (ICT) and agri-business. “We will partner with private firms to guarantee internships and market linkages,” he added.

“Betting is not a ladder out of poverty; it is a trap that drags us deeper. Let us invest in our youth, not their desperation,” Muntu said.