Muntu pledges bold fight against poverty, unemployment

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Maj. Gen. (rtd) Mugisha Muntu, the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) presidential candidate, delivered a rousing address at Nabikaka Ward in Busuwa town council, vowing to confront the sub-region’s entrenched poverty and unemployment through increased district funding, revitalised agriculture, and sustained anti-corruption efforts.

“No more handouts, we’ll build systems,” Muntu declared, echoing widespread frustrations over slow development despite government initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS).

Busoga’s residents continue to face serious challenges, including deteriorating roads, schools lacking basic furniture, under-stocked health centres and high unemployment, particularly among young people.

Sugarcane farming keeps many families in low-income cycles, while fishing communities struggle with lawlessness. “We grow maize, but profits vanish. No jobs for youth,” said Saddat Magala, a local resident.

At Namatanga village in Buwanga trading centre, Buwanga sub-county, Muntu warned Basoga to elect leaders they trust to make sound decisions regarding the rare earth minerals recently discovered in the region.

“If you are not careful here, you will be like the Karamoja sub-region, where leaders who come to visit their areas are only interested in their mineral wealth rather than just uplifting the standards of the people.

“We shall set up cooperatives to get good prices for your sugar cane, where you are earning a living,” he promised.

Supporters challenge Muntu on party structures

Supporters in Busoga confronted Mugisha Muntu, questioning his launch of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) amid claims that he is weakening existing opposition strongholds, particularly the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), instead of strengthening them.

The tension surfaced during his campaign on poverty and governance in the region, when FDC supporter Hamis Kasolo challenged him over splitting FDC and failing to build the party structures he once accused FDC of neglecting before resigning.

“You split from FDC, claiming that you were going to build party structures, but there is no office for your party here. Why did you ditch FDC?” Kasolo asked.

Muntu, who introduced his party's sole candidate, Waiswa Alikose, contesting for LC3 chairperson for Buwunga sub-county in Bugiri district, said the party has relied largely on individual contributions.

“Politics here in Uganda is not treated as a necessary must because people take it for granted, yet it is a matter of life and death,” he said.

“That is why religions here are more relied on because people have believed in it for their daily solutions than politics, which decides how their resources should be shared. We need to build systems where the locals understand their role in politics and contribute to its running,” he observed.

Alikose highlighted the ANT’s uphill task in strengthening its grassroots visibility.

No ANT offices in Bugiri, Namutumba

Benjamin Bumaseke, an ANT supporter in Namutumba, said it has been difficult to establish party offices due to limited resources, explaining that the party remains in its infancy and lacks funds for rent.

"We do not have necessary resources like paying rent to keep running such offices. That's why we have taken long without visibility, but we are still thriving underground," Bumaseke said.

He added that sustaining party structures has been a challenge due to financial constraints, which they hope to overcome through public support.

"Much as we have one or two flag bearers in a sub-county or the whole district, we just coordinate using phones to conduct our meetings," Bumaseke insisted.