Agency
President Yoweri Museveni has slammed what he described as a growing culture of dependence among leaders and public officials.
Speaking during the State of the Nation Address on Thursday, Museveni criticised Members of Parliament and government workers who demand allowances to carry out duties for which they are already paid.
Museveni said that he is angered by persistent demands for facilitation by some leaders, arguing that such attitudes undermine the country’s development efforts. He said such attitudes hinder national development and stressed the need for self-reliance and service delivery.
The President’s remarks came as he showcased beneficiaries of initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, and the four-acre model, which he has consistently promoted as pathways to household income growth and socio-economic transformation. He said that he used to ride a bicycle to serve his people, something he noted could be replicated by leaders.
Museveni contrasted the achievements of farmers and entrepreneurs who have embraced government programmes with leaders whom he accused of focusing on allowances rather than service delivery. His comments are consistent with a theme he has repeatedly raised in speeches over the years, where he criticises what he calls a “dependence syndrome” among public officials and sections of the population.
