Africa-Press – Uganda. Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) presidential candidate, Gen. Gregory Mugisha Muntu (Rtd), has said Uganda’s Parliament is too large for a country of its size, arguing that the more than 500 legislators are a financial burden to taxpayers.
“Over 500 members of Parliament is huge for a country like Uganda with a population of just over 47 million,” he said. “These numbers are draining the economy.”
Gen Muntu made the remarks on Wednesday during his campaign tour in Adjumani District, the 75th district he has visited on his nationwide trail ahead of the 2026 general elections.
Addressing journalists at the Adjumani Multi-Purpose Training Centre before later holding four rallies across the district, the ANT candidate said his administration would focus on rebuilding trust in public institutions, which he said has been eroded by years of poor governance.
“We want to create a Uganda where leaders can be trusted again,” Muntu said. “For 40 years, I have lived a life of consistency, honesty and discipline. I am bringing that culture into government.”
He outlined his key priorities, including revamping the education, health and agriculture sectors, saying the majority of Ugandans depend on these sectors for their livelihoods.
“Education is collapsing, health systems are suffocating, and agriculture is struggling,” he said. “A serious government must invest where the majority of its people live and work.”
Muntu said that strengthening agriculture would lift millions out of poverty and stimulate the broader economy. On corruption, the retired general was categorical, describing it as Uganda’s biggest obstacle to development.
“Corruption is not a mistake. It is a system,” he said. “We shall dismantle it and ensure every shilling is accounted for.”
To reduce what he called “exorbitant public expenditure”, Muntu said his government would downsize Parliament and merge overlapping public agencies, arguing that a leaner state would deliver better services.
“We cannot continue burdening taxpayers with unnecessary administrative costs,” he stated. “A lean government is an efficient government.”
He also promised a deliberate plan to repay Uganda’s growing national debt, saying excessive borrowing has put the country’s future at risk.
On the issue of youth unemployment, which he said remains among the highest in the region, Muntu promised to open up economic opportunities through investment in skills development, industrial growth and a predictable business environment.
“Our young people want to work, but the economy has locked them out,” he said. “We shall create space for them to thrive.”
Reiterating his campaign theme — “The change you can trust” — Muntu said his track record distinguishes him from the other contenders. “Among the eight presidential contenders, I stand on a tested record of truthfulness,” he said. “Ugandans deserve leaders who mean what they say.”
Gen. Muntu is expected to cross the River Nile via the Laropi ferry to Moyo District, where he will continue his campaign in the West Nile Region.
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