Museveni Pledges Special Fund for Fishermen, Clergy, and Graduates in Re-election Bid
PAKWACH, Uganda — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate, has pledged to establish a special fund targeting fishermen, religious leaders, and university graduates if re-elected.
Speaking during a campaign rally in Pakwach district, Museveni said the initiative is designed to support groups whose needs fall outside the scope of existing government programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM).
“We shall add another Shs 15 million per parish, and this will cater for local leaders like LC III chairpersons, councillors, and others,” Museveni said. “But funds for fishermen must be different — what fishermen need are not the same as PDM. Their packages must also be different.”
The president explained that the fund for religious leaders would be channelled through parish-level structures rather than districts, to ensure that support reaches grassroots communities, particularly in areas where poverty remains widespread.
Opposition Questions Government’s Track Record
Museveni’s remarks came amid growing criticism from the opposition, especially over the government’s handling of fishing communities on Uganda’s major lakes. The Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU), under the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), has faced backlash for its aggressive enforcement against illegal fishing — operations that have left many fishermen without livelihoods.
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) deputy president for northern Uganda, Hassan Kaps Fungaroo, rejected the idea of offering loans to communities affected by government-led crackdowns.
“You can’t give loans to someone who lost his property in an operation initiated by the government,” said Fungaroo. “It would make more sense for the government to offer bailouts or compensation.”
Local Voices Call for Grants, Not Loans
Among local residents, Museveni’s promise drew mixed reactions. Adong Roseline, a voter from Jonam, said many fishermen are jobless and unable to repay loans.
“Fishermen are currently poor because they are jobless,” she said. “If the president gives them money as loans, where will they get the means to pay back?”
A Targeted Campaign Strategy
The pledge adds to Museveni’s growing list of targeted campaign promises aimed at specific community groups, including youth, religious leaders, and local council officials. Analysts say these commitments reflect a tailored strategy to shore up support in regions hit hard by poverty and government interventions.
However, critics argue that unless structural issues in sectors like fisheries are addressed — including compensation for losses caused by enforcement operations — financial pledges may provide only short-term relief.
Museveni’s campaign continues amid a tightly contested race, with voters increasingly scrutinizing the feasibility and sustainability of campaign promises.
