MBALE, UGANDA — The Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs and Manager in the Office of the National Chairman (ONC-NRM), Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, has held a grassroots engagement with hundreds of vendors and youth groups in Mbale City, listening to their challenges and rallying them to support President Yoweri Museveni’s ongoing message of socio-economic transformation.
During the engagement held at Mbale Central Market, Hajjat Namyalo interacted with traders whom she referred to as Bazzukulu ba Museveni, who decried a range of challenges affecting their livelihoods. The vendors cited persistent water shortages within the market, heavy fees and levies imposed by the city council, and additional costs for utilities such as electricity, garbage collection, and security.
They also expressed disappointment at being excluded from key government programmes like the Parish Development Model (PDM), saying the system had sidelined urban vendors.
“PDM neglected market vendors. The chairpersons of the parishes exclude us because we don’t belong to their villages. So how can we benefit?” one of the traders asked during the dialogue.
Others complained about the dilapidated state of the market infrastructure, pointing to leaking roofs and poor sanitation.
In response, Hajjat Namyalo assured the traders that President Museveni was aware of their plight and committed to addressing it. She urged them, however, to remain steadfast in supporting the President’s leadership as government continues to push for inclusive development.
“As Bazzukulu, you have a right to demand from your Jajja (grandfather) because he is committed to uplifting you from poverty,” Namyalo said. “Your challenges will soon be sorted, but only if you stand firm with him.”
She also warned against local leaders who exploit small traders through illegal fees and levies, describing them as “enemies of progress” undermining the President’s vision of empowering ordinary citizens.
“It is unacceptable that a market built by President Museveni to empower his Bazzukulu has become a source of their suffering,” she said. “The ONC will not sit in offices; we shall be on the ground listening to the people.”
Later, Hajjat Namyalo visited St. Andrew’s Cell Garage, where she met another group of young people engaged in motor vehicle repair. The garage operators raised concerns over unfulfilled presidential pledges, including provision of toolkits, startup capital, and land along Kumi Road, which they said had not been delivered years after being promised.
“For the last 40 years of NRM leadership, we have not benefited anything tangible,” one of the garage workers, Sirajje, told the ONC boss.
Hajjat Namyalo confirmed that President Museveni had indeed pledged to support the group and promised to personally follow up on the matter.
“President Museveni promised to engage the council to resolve the issue of the Kumi Road land,” she said. “If those responsible failed to implement his pledge, this is the right time to demand accountability.”
She said her visit to Mbale aimed to assess the implementation of government programmes and verify whether presidential directives were being executed as intended.
“I am sure the President passed on these pledges, but somewhere in the system, there is a blockage,” she noted. “I pledge to trace and ensure the benefits reach those they were meant for.”
The ONC Manager reaffirmed her commitment to working closely with communities across the country to monitor service delivery and keep President Museveni informed about the realities facing citizens on the ground.
As her mobilisation trail continued in the evening, Hajjat Namyalo engaged members of the NEEKO group, composed of sex workers in Mbale City, to listen to their concerns particularly those regarding presidential commitments made during last year’s Bugisu Youth Symposium.
The group expressed frustration over the UGX 100 million support that President Museveni had pledged to their SACCO to help them transition into income-generating activities. They said the funds, expected within three months, had not been received nearly a year later.
They appealed to Hajjat Namyalo to urgently follow up on the matter and to help address other challenges affecting their livelihoods and safety.
Hajjat reassured them that their concerns would be addressed, noting that no group of Bazzukulu should be left behind in the journey toward economic empowerment.
“The President’s vision is for all Ugandans, including those in vulnerable communities, to join the money economy,” she said. “We shall follow this up and ensure the pledges are fulfilled.”
