DR. SAMUEL B. ARIONG: Beyond the Fishermen: Lessons from Uganda’s 2021–2026 Cabinet

2026-03-13 - 07:38

At the inaugural address of the new cabinet in 2021, President Yoweri Museveni, he offered a metaphor that was both colourful and memorable. He told the nation that he had selected “fishermen and women” to run the government; people who, like those who cast their nets on Uganda’s lakes and rivers, understand patience, persistence, and the discipline required to secure a good catch. The imagery was intended to communicate pragmatism: a team capable of navigating complex challenges and delivering Uganda’s long-promised socioeconomic transformation. Five years later, as the 2021–2026 cabinet approaches to an end of its tenure, the metaphor invites an unavoidable question: what exactly has the nation caught? What have these fishermen and women achieved to complement efforts of socioeconomic transformation – the president’s overarching vision for Uganda? Government reports highlight notable progress. Roads have expanded, electricity generation has grown, and industrial parks have taken root in several parts of the country. Uganda has also navigated a turbulent global economic environment marked by the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic, rising commodity prices, and disruptions in global trade. In these respects, the government can point to measurable achievements. Nevertheless, the public memory of this cabinet will not be defined only by infrastructure projects or economic indicators. It will also be remembered for controversies that raised uncomfortable questions about accountability, priorities, and the integrity of those entrusted with public office. The earliest and most damaging episode was the Karamoja iron sheets saga (Karachuna). Thousands of iron sheets procured by government to support vulnerable communities in the Karamoja sub-region were allegedly diverted to senior politicians and officials who were never meant to receive them. What should have been a straightforward intervention to assist one of Uganda’s most marginalized regions instead became a national scandal. The symbolism could hardly have been worse. At a time when the government was speaking of inclusive development and poverty reduction, basic relief materials meant for struggling communities were reportedly ending up in the homes of powerful figures to roof houses for pigs and goats; Parliamentary inquiries, public outrage, and official investigations followed, sadly, the episode left a deep dent in public confidence. Beyond that scandal, several flagship initiatives have struggled to deliver the sweeping results initially promised. The Parish Development Model (PDM), launched with great fanfare as the engine that would lift millions of households from subsistence into the money economy, has produced mixed results. In some areas, beneficiaries have received funds and begun small-scale investments. In others, delays, bureaucratic hurdles, limited technical guidance, and concerns about transparency in the selection of beneficiaries. The recent revelations by the Office Auditor General paint a very concerning picture of the implementation of the PDM. These challenges have slowed the pace at which the program can realistically deliver the transformative impact originally envisioned by the President. The idea behind the PDM remains sound: push development closer to the grassroots and empower communities to shape their own economic destinies. Yet a good idea poorly implemented risks becoming another entry in Uganda’s long list of promising policies whose impact falls short of expectations. Questions have also arisen over the compensation of so-called cooperatives destroyed during