Journalist Kasumba Breaks Down Why Uganda Can’t Fund Mega Projects Politicians Pledge

Veteran journalist Samson Kasumba has cast doubt on the ability of Uganda’s economy to fund the ambitious pledges often made by political leaders, especially in a country grappling with widespread corruption.

In a post on X, Kasumba posed a series of pointed questions about the scale of resources required to meet the nation’s infrastructure and social service needs.

He asked how much Uganda loses to corruption each year and whether that money could realistically finance projects such as four-lane highways, modern hospitals, and quality schools.

Kasumba broke down the costs of hiring and paying doctors, nurses, and teachers well, as well as building schools across the country.

He also raised the issue of staffing and housing for police officers and soldiers, suggesting scenarios where both groups would receive a starting salary of one million shillings per month alongside proper accommodation.

He then challenged the notion that eliminating corruption alone would free up enough funds to deliver such large-scale projects, even if a president had a full five-year term to work with.

“Does a corruption-free Uganda have money to fund such promises?” he asked, concluding that the economy cannot generate the necessary resources.

His comments reflect growing public skepticism about the practicality of these promises in the face of persistent economic constraints and entrenched graft