Museveni Acts on Public Complaints, Orders Major Government Reforms

President Yoweri Museveni has issued a series of direct orders to dissolve or reform contentious government bodies, responding to widespread public complaints of corruption, abuse, and mismanagement.

The most recent directive orders the "immediate dissolution" of all landing site committees on Uganda's lakes, structures that were part of the military-led Fisheries Protection Unit (FPU) [36226]. Fishing communities had long accused these committees of harassment and illegal taxation, leading Museveni to cite "widespread complaints and controversies" as the reason for their shutdown [36226].

This action follows a similar pattern of intervention. Earlier, the President instructed his Local Government Minister to immediately fix "mismanagement" of the Parish Development Model (PDM), an anti-poverty program where officials were accused of discriminatory fund allocation [22497]. Furthermore, ahead of the 2026 elections, Museveni warned against unlawful intimidation, stating citizens must "choose freely" [35188].

The crackdown extends to public resources. Ugandan water regulators have launched a major national campaign targeting inefficiency and water waste, with a focus on reducing losses from leaks and poor management [24125]. This push for accountability in public service echoes a demand made in neighboring Tanzania, where the Prime Minister warned officials to end a "business as usual" attitude or face consequences [33581].

While the military-led FPU remains active on Lake Victoria, the dissolution of its local committees is a direct concession to fishermen's grievances [36226]. These grievances were highlighted by opposition leader Bobi Wine, who vowed to end military "torture" on the lake if elected [35810]. The government has not yet announced who will manage the landing sites following the committees' dissolution [36226].