MUSEVENI WARNS AGAINST MISUSE OF PDM AND SKILLING FUNDS, CALLS FOR FREE EDUCATION AND UNITY IN MARACHA

Maracha District — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has issued a stern warning against the misuse and mismanagement of government funds, particularly those allocated under the Parish Development Model (PDM) and the Presidential Skilling Hubs Initiative.

While addressing a massive campaign rally in Maracha District, West Nile Sub-region, the President, accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni, called on citizens to take an active role in reporting corruption and irregularities in government programs.

“Anybody who has got information about getting less money on PDM, come and give your contact, your phone number to this armed officer here,” President Museveni instructed, pointing to one of his aides. “They are going to follow up and catch those who stole the money.”

The directive followed an interactive moment when the President asked the gathering whether those who received PDM funds had been given less than the standard Shs1 million. Nearly half of the crowd raised their hands, prompting him to order immediate investigations.

According to official figures, Maracha District, which comprises 91 parishes, has cumulatively received Shs27.95 billion under the PDM. Of this, Shs27.576 billion — representing 98.66 percent — has been disbursed to 30,695 beneficiary households.

Grilling of District Leaders Over Skilling Funds

Earlier, President Museveni tasked the Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Monica Koliba, to account for Shs50 million previously disbursed to the district graduates under the Presidential Skilling Hub for West Nile.

When the President demanded an explanation about the status of the funds, he directed the NRM Vice Chairperson for Northern Region, Denis Hamson Obua, to investigate immediately. Obua later reported that the funds were still intact in an account at Post Bank Arua Branch, confirming that no misuse had occurred.

Despite the clarification, Museveni expressed deep dissatisfaction with the performance of local government leaders. He accused them of failing to properly sensitize communities about available government programs, thereby allowing corruption and misinformation to thrive.

“Our leaders aren’t doing their job the right way. Why aren’t they informing the beneficiaries?” the President questioned. He reiterated that government initiatives like PDM were designed to uplift ordinary citizens, not enrich officials.

Call to Restore Free Education

On the education front, the President emphasized his commitment to restoring fully free education in government schools across the country. He proposed removing unnecessary financial burdens such as feeding and boarding fees that have turned public schools into semi-private institutions.

“In the next government, I want to reach an agreement with headteachers, PTAs, and foundation bodies to launch free education in government schools across Uganda,” Museveni said.

He pledged to revive the original education model where every parish has at least one primary school and every sub-county has a government secondary school, ensuring accessibility for all children. The President revealed that 34 out of 91 parishes in Maracha District still lack government primary schools, and promised to address the gap.

Wealth Creation vs. Infrastructure Development

Museveni reminded citizens that physical infrastructure alone does not translate into household wealth. While government investments in roads and electricity are critical for national progress, personal prosperity depends on individual and family efforts in productive economic ventures.

“You don’t sleep on the tarmac road,” Museveni said. “You sleep in your houses. If poverty is still in your house, it will be waiting for you when you return.”

He stressed that true development must combine public infrastructure with private wealth creation through modern agriculture, value addition, and entrepreneurship.

Key Infrastructure Projects in West Nile 

The President highlighted ongoing and planned projects aimed at accelerating the region’s growth. These include:

The Karuma–Koboko highway,

Moyo–Yumbe–Koboko road network,

Nebbi–Paidha road, and Panyimur–Pakwach road.

Museveni also confirmed the extension of the 132KV high-voltage electricity line from Karuma to West Nile to meet growing industrial and household demand, particularly due to cross-border trade with South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

He underscored that these projects were part of long-term strategic plans rather than short-term political promises, demonstrating the NRM government’s commitment to sustainable regional transformation.

Promoting Patriotism and Pan-Africanism 

Beyond economics, Museveni used his speech to call for unity and patriotism among Ugandans. He reminded the people of West Nile—comprising the Lugbara, Alur, and Madi communities—that national identity must supersede tribal affiliations.

“Whether you are Lugbara, Alur, or Madi, you are first and foremost a Ugandan,” he said. “Uganda is a common market that benefits all its citizens.” He cautioned against divisive politics and “shallow rhetoric,” saying true leadership must be based on understanding national challenges and formulating practical solutions.

President Museveni’s address in Maracha District reflected his broader campaign message — one that intertwines accountability, service delivery, unity, and economic empowerment. His renewed warning against corruption in the PDM and Skilling Hub programs underscores a central theme of his leadership: that national development must reach every household and that public servants must serve as partners, not predators, in Uganda’s transformation journey.