‘Poor youths’ accuse Kampala NRM leaders of sabotaging Museveni’s ghetto programs

Described as ‘poor youths’ living in Kampala’s slums, they have accused city leaders of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) of sabotaging government programs aimed at alleviating poverty in ghetto areas.

In August, President Museveni injected Shs1.2 billion into 12 different savings and credit cooperatives belonging to ghetto youths living in the slums of Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono districts.

During the establishment of ghetto youth SACCOs, Museveni argued that youth can be productive and lift themselves out of poverty if they consciously participate in the four main productive sectors such as commercial agriculture, factories and industrialization, services and ICT innovations.

On Wednesday, Ghetto Structures Uganda chairman Shaifique Kalyango said they had identified some NRM leaders in Kampala who were using other youths to sabotage Museveni’s demands.

“The ghetto youth were once united in their struggle. I condemn those who seek to divide them by exploiting opposition to government programmes. Individuals, including ministers, have been hand-picked to discredit government initiatives aimed at reducing poverty and crime,” Kalyango said. Do not give names of suspects.

He added: “Those who support NRM in Kampala are not appreciated, while those who undermine government programs are rewarded by our own leaders. NRM leaders prefer opposition in Kampala because they benefit from it.”

However, Kalyango said the ghetto structure in Kampala will remain strong and thrive under current conditions.

“We have put new structures in place and are reaching out to organizations and individuals who are spreading misinformation about ghettos not progressing. “They must stop, or we will address this issue directly,” he added.

Another leader of the ghetto structure, Job Norman Katende, said some people falsely claimed that they did not benefit from the transformation fund for Kampala’s ghetto communities.

“Some people use our names to create division, but I united the ghetto members under the rule of General Ddamulira. Let’s unite and stop sabotaging government programs. The ghetto structure was created to unite the ghettos in Uganda,” said Katende.

He observed: “Criticism from some members will only lead us into difficulty, forcing us to return to the streets. “Those who support government programs are opposed by the same people within the government.”

Katende emphasized that they recently met with Museveni in Kololo, and the Ugandan leader expressed his desire to work with ghetto communities.

In a separate interview with MonitorNRM communications director Emmanuel Dombo has promised investigations into insiders sabotaging government programmes.

Dombo said, “If information about sabotage activities reaches us, we will either respond politically, or if there is criminal intent, we will inform the relevant authorities and ensure the implementation of the law.”

He added: “Ugandan politics is full of selfish individuals, including those who claim to oppose Museveni when in fact they are serving their own interests.”

Official 2024 government data shows that 22.7 percent (10.4 million) of Uganda’s population of 45.9 million are young people aged 18 to 30. Thousands of them survive mostly in ghettos in Kampala.