President Museveni has ordered a fresh crackdown on corruption, absenteeism and medicine shortages in public health facilities, warning that government workers who fail to serve citizens will be replaced by younger professionals.
Museveni, who is also National Chairman of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), issued the directive on Friday, August 7, 2026, while addressing the NRM Parliamentary Caucus at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala.
The President said his recent countrywide campaigns had exposed several challenges requiring urgent government intervention, including poor health service delivery, corruption, misuse of Parish Development Model (PDM) funds, crime, local government staffing, cancer and other non-communicable diseases.
He singled out the health sector, particularly reports of medicine shortages and patients being referred to private drug shops and pharmacies to purchase medicines that should be available at government facilities.
“Health needs to be addressed. There’s some corruption in the health centres. You don’t find drugs there. Is it because there are no drugs or they’re being stolen?” Museveni asked.
He said Cabinet would discuss the matter and pledged to personally follow up on reports of medicine shortages and possible theft of government drugs.
“In health facilities you find that there are no drugs, and people are being told to go and buy from outside in drug shops and pharmacies. This one must stop. I’m going to check,” he said.
Threatens to replace absentee health workers
The President also raised concern about absenteeism among health workers, particularly doctors who are expected to serve in government facilities but allegedly fail to report to their stations.
He said Uganda has qualified young medical professionals who could be recruited to fill positions held by workers who are unwilling to perform their duties.
“We shall reach a point and chase away those who don’t want to work and replace them with young ones,” Museveni warned.
He said improving public health services was critical because illness not only affects households but also results in lost productivity.
“The last time I was sick with malaria was in the bush. Sickness is lost contribution time,” he said.
Museveni also expressed concern about the rising burden of cancer and diabetes, calling for greater investigation into their causes and stronger preventive measures.
He noted that Uganda had made progress in controlling several infectious diseases, including Guinea worm, measles and polio, but warned that non-communicable diseases were becoming an increasing challenge.
The President said he regularly receives requests from Ugandans seeking assistance to travel abroad, particularly to India, for cancer treatment.
“People are contacting me to go to India for treatment. What is causing the cancer? Why are cancers so much now? Why is it so rampant?” he asked.
Museveni recalled his previous concerns about the possible relationship between fungal contamination and liver cancer and said he had earlier taken measures concerning shelled groundnuts.
“I’m going to make proposals to the Cabinet because cancers and diabetes are becoming too much,” he said.
On corruption, Museveni commended some government officials for what he described as efforts to tackle corruption at the local level, citing Minister for Local Government Balaam Barugahara and his junior, Justine Nameere.
He linked some public resentment at the local level to alleged theft and diversion of PDM funds by local leaders and officials.
“Apparently, this local corruption where you have the LCs or some of the leaders taking the PDM money, that’s how you get local resentment,” he said.
Museveni directed Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja to instruct Barugahara to investigate allegations of theft and corruption involving PDM funds in several areas.
He cited Pakwach, Maracha, Iganga and Buwambo among the places where allegations of PDM fund theft or misuse had been raised.
The President recalled that during his campaign visit to Maracha, the rally effectively turned into a discussion about the PDM programme.
“In Maracha, when I went to campaign, the rally turned into a PDM meeting,” he said.
However, he singled out Kasese District for praise, saying he had received reports that the programme was performing well there.
“Where I heard PDM was doing well was in Kasese,” Museveni said.
He described PDM as a potentially transformative programme for households if properly implemented and urged MPs and local leaders to monitor its implementation and expose any diversion of funds.
“PDM is a game changer for your people,” he told the legislators.
The President also raised concerns about alleged corruption in the recruitment of local government workers, saying he had received reports that government jobs were being sold to applicants.
He cited a case in Kibale where, according to information presented to him, a government position was allegedly being offered for Shs10 million.
“Then you come to the local government. The selling of local government jobs. They told me in Kibale a government job was going for 10 million shillings,” Museveni said.
He urged MPs to monitor recruitment processes and ensure that government employment is based on merit rather than the ability to pay.
Museveni also criticised what he described as excessive focus on creating new districts, cities and political positions at the expense of programmes aimed at increasing household incomes.
He urged leaders to concentrate on strategic development priorities, particularly irrigation, which he described as a “lifesaver” in the fight against poverty.
“I have been telling you—seek ye first the kingdom of heaven, and the rest will be added unto you. I have been telling you about irrigation to get out of poverty, but people are just minding about new districts, cities, salaries, etc., because they want leadership positions,” he said.
Museveni cited a proposal to divide Ntungamo District into three districts, saying, according to information he had received, the push was partly motivated by the desire to create additional political positions.
“For example, they wanted to split Ntungamo into three districts because some people wanted to become women members of Parliament,” he said.
He urged MPs to focus on what he described as Uganda’s core development priorities, including defence and security, roads, railway infrastructure, schools and irrigation.
The President also called on MPs and local government leaders to work closely with security agencies to combat crime and prevent criminal activity from undermining development.
NRM caucus adopts 11 resolutions
Following Museveni’s address, the NRM Parliamentary Caucus adopted 11 resolutions covering government programmes, party discipline, corruption, elections and national development priorities.
The resolutions were presented by Government Chief Whip Dr Jane Ruth Aceng.
The caucus resolved to support strategic government programmes in defence, security, railway infrastructure, roads, irrigation, health and education.
The legislators also pledged to strengthen the fight against corruption across government as part of efforts to promote Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.
On elections, the caucus resolved to uphold discipline and integrity in electoral processes within the party and nationally, while rejecting electoral malpractice.
The MPs also pledged continued support for ongoing and forthcoming local council and women’s council elections.
The caucus reaffirmed its commitment to financial contributions agreed upon by the NRM Central Executive Committee. Under the arrangement, MPs are expected to contribute Shs250,000 monthly, comprising Shs150,000 to the NRM and Shs100,000 to the Parliamentary Caucus, beginning June 2026.
The caucus also resolved to welcome independent MPs who support the NRM into its ranks.
On PDM, the legislators resolved to continue supporting the programme, increase its uptake and visibility, and strengthen follow-up on allegations involving diversion, theft and corruption.
They also resolved to study the challenge of school fees in public schools and make proposals on how government could address it.
Other resolutions covered value addition, strengthening internal markets and regional integration.
The caucus further resolved to support the candidature of Ambassador Olara Otunnu for the position of United Nations Secretary-General.
Earlier, Aceng thanked members of the NRM Parliamentary Caucus for what she described as their commitment, discipline and patriotism since the beginning of the 12th Parliament.
She also commended NRM legislators and independent MPs aligned with the caucus for supporting two Bills returned to Parliament by Museveni for reconsideration—the Tax Amendment Bill and the Excise Duty Bill.
“By supporting the guidance you gave, the caucus once again demonstrated its commitment to advancing government business and protecting the interests of our country under your able leadership,” Aceng told Museveni.
Aceng also thanked MPs for supporting a motion authorising the deployment of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) to the Gaza Strip for a peacekeeping mission.
She said the decision demonstrated that MPs could put national interests above partisan considerations when making critical decisions.
“I also wish to thank members for supporting the motion authorising the deployment of the Uganda Peoples’ Defense Forces to the Gaza Strip for a peacekeeping mission at yesterday’s sitting,” she said.
Aceng said Uganda remained proud of the contribution of its armed forces to regional and international peace and security.
