Crowd Erupts in Cheers as Museveni Grants Minister Balaam Special New Appointment

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Monday made a surprise visit to the Kigo Carpentry Village and Skilling Centre, where he unleashed a storm of accountability demands, following concerns about the misuse of public funds.

In an unexpected twist, the President refused to proceed with his scheduled speech until he was satisfied with a full explanation of how money meant for the youth empowerment project had been spent.

“You have shown me around a showroom,” Museveni said sternly after being taken on a brief tour of the facility. “But where is the workshop?” His question left officials scrambling for answers as the visibly displeased Head of State demanded a full breakdown of every penny released for the project.

In a dramatic moment that left many clapping and cheering, President Museveni announced the appointment of businessman and NRM mobiliser Balaam Barugahara as the new coordinator for the Kigo Carpentry Village and Skilling Centre. The President directed Balaam to immediately organize all 500 youth beneficiaries of the project to meet and compile reports on what has been happening at the facility.

The President also suggested that the current leadership overseeing the project should be relieved of their duties, stating bluntly that “there is definitely a problem here.”

The crowd responded with thunderous applause, as the President's firm stance resonated with the frustrations of the youth and community members who have long questioned the transparency of the centre’s operations.

This candid exchange was shared by Nelson Bwire Kapo, a former State House editor for Daily Monitor and current online editor for State House, on social media platform X.

At least one arrest has been confirmed in connection to the suspected mismanagement of funds. Museveni insisted on knowing where all the money went and how it was utilized. His intervention appears to be part of a broader effort to ensure accountability in government-backed skilling projects aimed at empowering Uganda’s youth.

With Balaam Barugahara now at the helm, the Kigo centre is expected to undergo a complete overhaul, and more arrests or changes in leadership could follow as investigations deepen.

The President’s visit has reignited hopes among the youth that their voices will be heard, and the skilling centre can finally fulfill its original purpose of offering practical training and job creation opportunities