No one has a vision for Uganda like Museveni

Former Vice President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya has said that no one in Uganda’s political landscape possesses a stronger or clearer vision for the country's development than President Yoweri Museveni.

Addressing journalists in Kampala, Bukenya recalled how he was harshly criticised in 2002 when he publicly declared that Museveni was the only leader with a genuine development vision for Uganda. “People rebuked me, but even after nearly 40 years in power, he remains the only leader with a solid vision for the country,” he said.

He challenged opposition figures seeking to replace Museveni to present tangible alternatives. “If you want to remove him, show us your vision. Don’t just criticize for the sake of it,” Bukenya said, urging political actors to focus on constructive engagement.

He lauded Museveni’s development agenda, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, education, and industrialisation. He called on Ugandans to adopt a more positive outlook on national programs, especially those aimed at value addition and job creation.

Speaking after a tour of the Mbale Industrial Park, Bukenya said he was “deeply impressed” by the transformation taking place within the small-scale industrial hub, noting that it provides direct employment to over 4,000 Ugandan youths.

“When I went to Mbale, I went ignorant. I had heard all the negative talk about ‘Chinese are there,’ but I found five major industries operating on barely 10 acres,” he said. “That’s value addition jobs being created from cotton to finished products like shirts, bedsheets, trousers, and quilts.”

Bukenya emphasized that industrialization and value addition are Uganda’s best options for tackling youth unemployment.

“If we had 20 more parks like Mbale, we wouldn’t be talking about joblessness,” he said.

He also admitted he once opposed some of Museveni’s proposals, such as reallocating funds to infrastructure.

“We resisted the road projects in Cabinet, but it turned out to be a visionary move,” he said. “Similarly, I once thought free primary education was a joke but that foundation is what allows young people today to work in factories.”

Bukenya urged Ugandans to shift from skepticism to support for home-grown solutions.

“Let’s stop the negativity. Uganda’s future depends on transforming raw materials into finished products and creating wealth right here,” he stressed.