Jinja South East Member of Parliament-elect Paul Mwiru has called for urgent governance reforms in Uganda, warning that leadership centred on personal survival rather than national transformation poses a grave danger to the country’s future.
Speaking to journalist Canary Mugume during the Next Big Talk programme hosted by Next Radio on Saturday, Mwiru emphasised that the country’s challenges are rooted in governance failures.
“The danger of thinking leadership is about personal survival is very dangerous. The bigger picture should be transformation,” he said.
Mwiru stressed that unless Uganda addresses systemic governance issues, efforts to resolve pressing social and economic challenges will remain futile.
“All our problems are governance-related. Unless we fix governance, we won’t solve these challenges,” he said.
He cited Uganda’s health sector as a clear example of governance shortcomings. Mwiru noted that when the national health ministry’s budget is divided by the country’s population, each Ugandan effectively receives approximately Shs 600 in health expenditure—an amount he described as grossly inadequate.
“If you divide the health ministry's budget by Uganda's population, each person gets about Shs 600. The health sector has been surrendered to interns,” he said, underscoring what he described as chronic underfunding and mismanagement within the sector.
Mwiru argued that meaningful transformation in healthcare delivery and other public services can only be achieved through accountable and transparent governance structures.
Addressing the issue of international sanctions, Mwiru expressed confidence that Uganda’s sovereignty and unity would ultimately prevail.
“If the sanctions are meant to set us back, in time, many will see this country belongs to all of us,” he said.
His remarks come amid heightened political tensions following the January 15, 2026 general elections and increased international scrutiny over Uganda’s governance and human rights record.
The comments also come against the backdrop of criticism from opposition leaders, including former National Unity Platform presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine.
Kyagulanyi recently addressed the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy via video message, alleging widespread violence and electoral irregularities during the 2026 presidential elections.
Kyagulanyi has accused President Yoweri Museveni and Chief of Defence Forces Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba of orchestrating violence and election manipulation—claims the government has denied.
He has called on the international community to impose sanctions and withhold recognition of the current administration, while pledging commitment to non-violent resistance.
