President Yoweri Museveni on several recent occasions has spoken about his long term in office and the responsibility he feels for the state of his country, Uganda.
One particularly striking incident came when he said he did not want to face God in heaven only to be asked why, as a leader, he had remained silent while his people suffered in poverty.
He asserted that his mission has been to act, to lead and to ensure that Ugandan citizens are not left to languish in destruction.
“I have projects designed to lift you out of poverty. I may not be poor, but I aspire to go to heaven. I do not want to face God one day and be asked why I led while remaining silent as people suffered in poverty,” he said.
In the same context, he has pointed to several flagship development initiatives under his government, framing them as vehicles for lifting households out of poverty.
One such project is the Parish Development Model (PDM), which he described as the way in which every parish can mobilize resources, support small enterprise and ensure that “every home has an income.”
He has also emphasized infrastructure as a sign of transformation, but also stressed that infrastructure must go hand in hand with wealth creation at the household level, lest the poor still find themselves beside a tarmac road yet unable to make ends meet.
He said “I will not build roads for the rich while my poor people are still suffering. First, let us ensure every home has an income.”
Additionally, his government has been involved in large-scale infrastructure projects including, though not always explicitly referenced in the statement, the proposed oil-pipeline and transport corridors that Uganda hopes will help boost export earnings and spur jobs.
On the political front, the 2026 presidential election in Uganda is shaping up as one of the most closely watched contests in recent years.
According to the Electoral Commission Uganda, the date of the general election has been set for January 15, 2026. President Museveni has declared his intention to run again.
Among the principal challengers are Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (better known as Bobi Wine) of the National Unity Platform, who confirmed his candidacy earlier, citing the desire to bring change to Uganda’s youthful electorate.
Also noted among the candidates is Munyagwa Mubarak Sserunga of the Common Man’s Party, who is positioning himself as a candidate of the grassroots and middle sector. The electoral commission has cleared multiple candidates (seven or more) for the race, reflecting a somewhat broader field than in previous years.
In his remarks about facing God, Museveni was drawing on moral and spiritual language, saying that leadership brings a moral obligation: to speak up, to act, to care for the poor.
By aligning his political mission with faith and service, he seeks to frame his stewardship not simply as a matter of power but of moral responsibility.
But the stakes are high: with the election scheduled, voters will assess not just rhetoric but the real outcomes; jobs, incomes, services, roads, and whether poverty has been reduced meaningfully.
