By KT Reporter
The Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) presidential candidate, Maj Gen Gregory Mugisha Muntu, has urged the people of Luuka District to vote for change, arguing that President Yoweri Museveni no longer has the tenacity to tackle corruption.
Addressing supporters across several sub-counties in Luuka, Muntu said Museveni had “done his part” over the last four decades but had failed to curb the corruption crippling public institutions. He argued that Uganda now needs a leader with both the moral authority and political will to confront graft head-on.
Muntu made the statements during several stopovers he made in Eastern Uganda on Thursday. He began his campaign trail in Kaliro District, where he met small groups before addressing larger gatherings in major trading centres.
His first stop was Bulangila Road in Kaliro Town Council, followed by a mini-rally at Freedom Square. He then proceeded to Namukooge Trading Centre in Namugongo Sub-county, winding up his day’s engagements in Kaliro before crossing into Luuka via the Namukooge-Nawandala road.
His first meeting in Luuka was at Kyanvuma Town Council, where supporters lined the streets holding posters in welcome. Muntu continued through Lambala, Nawampiti, Walyembwa, Buwologoma, and Busalamu before concluding the day in Bulanga Town Council.
Throughout the engagements, Muntu stressed the need for Ugandans to elect an alternative leader, one he described as disciplined, principled, and unwavering in the fight against corruption. He told his supporters that his record as a military officer and his humble lifestyle were proof of his integrity and commitment to public service.
“As a leader, you must be free from greed,” Muntu said. “Without that, you cannot withstand the temptations that come with power.”
Residents who attended the rallies shared their encounters with corruption. Halima Namusobya, a mother from the area, said graft has permeated the healthcare system, noting that some health workers charge unofficial fees for services meant to be free. She said she pays 5,000 Shillings for each antenatal visit despite the government policy that such services should be provided at no cost.
“There is a need for a complete overhaul of government systems if we are to meaningfully fight corruption,” Namusobya said.
Another resident, Jamil Wanda, said corruption in lower-level public offices has eroded access to essential services such as health and education. He described corruption as “seemingly institutionalised,” leading to widespread loss of public trust.
But Luuka District Chairperson, Simon Wakaze, defended his administration, saying it conducts routine monitoring of government programmes, including healthcare delivery, to ensure equitable access.
Wakaze acknowledged, however, that health facilities still struggle with limited supplies, making it difficult to meet the growing demand, particularly at Kiyunga Health Centre IV and several Health Centre IIIs.
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