President Yoweri Museveni has announced a plan to inject Shs5 billion into the ghetto communities across Kampala, as part of a broader initiative to uplift the urban poor.
He made the pledge during a recent public address to residents from the city’s five divisions.
“I’m going to make it one billion per division,” Museveni declared, referring to Kawempe, Rubaga, Makindye, Nakawa, and Central divisions.
He also acknowledged concerns about previous funding, saying, “The hundred million I gave seems to have already gone to some people,” hinting that earlier allocations may not have reached the intended recipients.
The announcement was met with enthusiastic applause from a crowd largely dressed in yellow—the signature color of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
According to Museveni, the funds are intended to boost grassroots economic activities in Kampala’s most disadvantaged areas.
He also urged responsible use of public resources, calling for reduced administrative costs and more direct investment into community support.
“We must constrain some of the expenditure, which is just for administration,” he said, emphasizing the need to cut bureaucracy and prioritize impact on the ground.
While the Shs5 billion commitment is seen as a strategic move to bolster political support in underprivileged communities, questions remain about whether the funds will be delivered transparently.
Still, for many living in Kampala’s ghettos, the promise offers a rare glimpse of hope if it materializes.