During a campaign rally in Pakwach district, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni announced a new plan to establish a special fund aimed at supporting fishermen, religious leaders, and university graduates if re-elected. This proposed funding comes as a targeted effort to address the unique challenges faced by groups often left out by mainstream government programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM).
Museveni explained that although the PDM is already providing Shs 100 million per parish to boost household incomes, it does not sufficiently meet the needs of every group. He revealed that the government will inject an additional Shs 15 million into each parish to support local leaders such as LC III chairpersons and councillors. However, he emphasized that fishermen and clergy require tailored support, different from what the PDM currently offers.
“Fishermen face different challenges,” Museveni said. “What they need is not the same as what farmers need. Their equipment and tools are different, and they should be supported in a unique way.”
The president also highlighted that support for religious leaders would be delivered through parish-level structures, ensuring that the funds reach communities directly without being held up at the district level. According to Museveni, this approach will promote transparency and reach grassroots leaders more effectively.
This pledge follows mounting criticism from opposition leaders, particularly regarding government enforcement efforts on Uganda’s lakes. The Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) has conducted several operations against illegal fishing, often confiscating boats and gear from local fishermen. These operations, although meant to preserve fish stocks, have reportedly left many fishing families jobless and struggling.
Hassan Kaps Fungaroo, Deputy President of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) in northern Uganda, strongly opposed the president’s approach. “You cannot offer loans to someone who has just lost everything in a government-led operation,” he said. “What they need is compensation, not more debt.”
Local voices in Pakwach supported this view. Roseline Adong, a resident of Jonam, pleaded for direct financial help instead of loans. “Many of our fishermen are unemployed and living in poverty,” she said. “Asking them to pay back loans when they have no income will only worsen their situation.”
The president’s latest pledge adds to a long list of promises made during the campaign season, as he seeks another term in office. While many welcome his efforts to focus on community-specific needs, some observers argue that these initiatives will only succeed if deeper structural issues are addressed. They warn that unless the root causes of poverty—such as poor access to equipment, lack of market access, and heavy-handed enforcement—are resolved, the new funds may only offer temporary relief.
Nonetheless, Museveni remains optimistic. He believes that by customizing government support to match each community’s needs, his administration can uplift more Ugandans out of poverty and build sustainable livelihoods.
As the election season intensifies, all eyes are on how these promises will be implemented and whether they will bring real change to struggling communities across the country.