Journalist and political commentator Joseph Sabiti has issued a scathing critique of Uganda’s political and moral state, warning that unchecked corruption and widespread youth unemployment are symptoms of a deeper national decay that demands urgent self-reflection.
Speaking on the NBS Media Roundtable on Friday, Sabiti declared, “The space called Uganda is politically contagious. We have all let down the country with corruption.”
His remarks come at a time when Uganda continues to grapple with growing economic inequality, persistent joblessness, and deepening public frustration over a political system many see as failing to deliver meaningful change.
Sabiti condemned the normalization of corruption in both politics and society, where stolen public funds are often celebrated rather than condemned so long as they benefit one’s local community.
“Everyone shall be loved if he or she steals money and takes it to some village down there,” he said, highlighting the cultural acceptance of corruption cloaked in populism.
“It’s time to do self-inspection if we want our country to grow.”
Uganda’s challenges are not new, but Sabiti’s call struck a nerve because it emphasized shared national responsibility—not just blaming politicians, but urging every citizen to confront the values driving the country’s decline.
“Growth cannot happen in a country where millions of youth are unemployed,” he warned, pointing to the urgent need for structural reforms that address economic exclusion and systemic corruption.
According to recent data from the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, youth unemployment in Uganda remains one of the highest in East Africa, with over 60% of young people under 30 either unemployed or in precarious, informal work.
Sabiti’s remarks have reignited debate around the role of individual ethics, civic duty, and political courage.
His message was blunt: Uganda is in crisis not just because of corrupt leaders, but also because of a population that often rewards corruption with silence or applause.
Sabiti’s comments serve as a rallying cry for a collective reckoning, urging citizens to stop waiting for saviors and start demanding integrity, transparency, and genuine accountability at all levels.
“We must ask hard questions,” he concluded. “What kind of country do we want to become, and what role are each of us playing in getting there?”
With Uganda approaching another election cycle in the coming years, the country finds itself at a crossroads, and voices like Sabiti’s are urging it to choose the harder—but more honest—path forward.