For decades, Uganda’s development narrative has largely revolved around the expansion of roads, electricity, and major infrastructure projects. But President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is now calling for a decisive pivot—one that prioritizes putting money directly into the hands of ordinary Ugandans.
Speaking to leaders at Mwanzi Parish in Kasanda District during his wealth creation and Parish Development Model (PDM) performance tour in Greater Mubende, Museveni delivered one of his most direct critiques of the traditional infrastructure-first approach to development.
“Even in Kampala, where there are tarmac roads, electricity, and piped water, poverty still exists. “Some people in the city go hungry, yet they are surrounded by modern infrastructure,” Museveni said.
His message was unambiguous: physical infrastructure, while essential, cannot substitute for household-level economic empowerment. Despite impressive investments in Uganda’s highways and power grids, the President argued that development must now be measured by its ability to lift families out of poverty.
“The nation must apply the same principle by seeking household income first,” Museveni added, quoting the Bible: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.”
This rhetorical shift reflects a broader policy recalibration—from top-down public investment to grassroots economic participation. It underscores growing concern at the highest level that Uganda’s model of growth, though visible and politically popular, has not trickled down equitably to the average household—especially in rural and peri-urban areas.
Central to this reframing is the Parish Development Model, which Museveni now touts as the flagship intervention for poverty eradication. Designed to decentralize development and deliver capital directly to the community level, PDM offers an alternative to waiting for indirect benefits from large infrastructure investments.
To drive home his point, Museveni shared a story of a 64-year-old woman from Rubirizi who, after receiving Shs1 million through PDM, was able to rebuild her home. The impact was so profound that her estranged husband returned from Kampala to rejoin the household.
“Cows do not eat tarmac or sit on electricity. “I bought land in Kisozi in 1990 when there was no development, and now development has followed wealth,” Museveni said.
These anecdotes serve to emphasize that economic transformation must begin at the household level, with small capital injections and community-led planning yielding faster and more inclusive returns than mega projects alone.
While shifting the focus to income generation, Museveni was careful not to dismiss infrastructure altogether. He expressed frustration with the deteriorating condition of roads like the Mityana–Sekanyonyi–Mwanzi route, calling on the Ministry of Works to enhance maintenance practices.
“Why do we allow good roads to deteriorate? Even murram roads, if maintained, serve communities well.”
The President also addressed systemic weaknesses in local governance structures, particularly in education service delivery. He accused District Service Commissions of corruption and promised salary increases for LC3s, LC5s, and councilors. By doing so, Museveni positioned local leaders as critical actors in this new era of people-centred development.
This is consistent with his broader narrative in recent speeches—calling out saboteurs of the Universal Primary and Secondary Education policies, and warning against illegal school fees that exclude poor children. In this context, improving local accountability is not only a governance goal but a poverty reduction strategy.
Museveni’s “tarmac doesn’t feed the hungry” declaration marks a clear evolution in Uganda’s development messaging. It is an acknowledgment that infrastructure alone does not equate to inclusive growth and that unless families are equipped with the tools to generate income, national prosperity will remain an illusion for many.
Uganda’s next development chapter may well be written not in concrete, but in capital access, localized governance, and a relentless focus on household productivity.