President Yoweri Museveni has repeatedly expressed a low opinion of his fellow Ugandans, a sentiment that has stirred controversy and resentment quietly. He seems to believe that Ugandans are either indifferent to or incapable of recognizing the mismanagement and corruption that have plagued his administration for decades. He and his system believe that Ugandans cannot tell the difference between internal abuse of systems and influence by foreign powers on internal matters of the country.
Indeed in March 2024, while visiting Kenya, President Museveni openly criticized Ugandans, calling them “foolish and lazy” during an interview with KTN News. He attributed this perceived laziness to Uganda’s abundant natural resources, which, according to him, allow even the “fools” to survive without effort. Such statements reveal Museveni’s dismissive attitude toward his countrymen, suggesting he sees them us mere beneficiaries of the nation’s wealth rather than active contributors to its development.
Despite nearly four decades in power, Museveni often dismisses Uganda’s first 24 years post-independence as a period of wasted potential. He claims that only the last 36 years or so, under his rule, have been marked by progress. Museveni blames external forces and local opposition for any failures during his tenure, refusing to acknowledge his administration’s role in perpetuating poor policies, rampant corruption, bloated government with influence peddling and corruption, and a breakdown in essential services such as education and healthcare.
This disdain was further highlighted when Museveni publicly scolded MP Joseph Gonzaga Sewungu, calling him “useless” for pointing out the dangerous state of Uganda’s narrow roads. This confrontation occurred on Friday at the National Resistance Movement (NRM) headquarters on Kyadondo Road, where Mr Musevni was speaking to mourners of the late Simon Aleper, a member of the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC). He lashed out at Kalungu West Member of Parliament Joseph Gonzaga Ssewungu, accusing him of being “useless” and “talking like children.” The former Moroto Municipality legislator Simon Peter Aleper was tragically killed in a fatal motor accident along the Iganga-Tirinyi highway, and from this background, the president alluded that because the road where Aleper died from is new and smooth, a lot of motorists are recklessly driving and over speeding. Museveni’s refusal to take responsibility for the high number of road accidents underlines his rating of Ugandans. A fact that there are between 60 to 120 weekly fatalities on Ugandan roads as a standard procedures is a reason Museveni should have actually taken Hon Sewungu’s words very serious. —underscores his disconnect from the harsh realities faced by ordinary Ugandans.
When Ugandans took to the streets in a March 2024 protest, Museveni dismissed their grievances, attributing the demonstration to foreign funding and influence. He insinuated that Ugandans are not intelligent or motivated enough to protest without external incentives. This claim was reiterated in a statement where he praised security forces for suppressing the protest and thanked the public for their non-participation. He suggested that the demonstration was part of a long history of foreign interference in Uganda.
The protest saw over 80 arrests and significant media coverage, despite its modest size. The organizers effectively used social media to mobilize support and provide legal assistance to detained demonstrators. Museveni, however, maintained that these efforts were funded by external sources, dismissing the possibility that Ugandans could independently organize and protest against the government’s failures.
Museveni’s contempt for his countrymen is a defining aspect of his presidency, marking him as a leader who consistently looks down on his own people. His rhetoric not only alienates Ugandans but also undermines their legitimate concerns and aspirations for a better future.
