Africa-Press – Uganda. Youths in Nakaseke District have expressed deep frustration over what they describe as government neglect and rampant exploitation by motorcycle loan companies, leaving many financially strained and disillusioned with the government.
During a community engagement with the State Minister for Higher Education, Hon. Joseph Kabuye Kyofatogabye, held in Kirinda village, Wakyato Sub-county, youth representatives voiced several grievances, including harsh loan terms, exclusion from government development programs, poor road infrastructure, and corruption in public health services.
Elijah Sserugo, a motorcyclist from Kirinda, shared his ordeal of acquiring a motorcycle on loan.
“We are buying a motorcycle worth Shs 5 million at Shs 12 million. The terms set by the companies are hard and unbearable,” he said.
“Unfortunately, we have to comply because it’s difficult for a youth to raise Shs 5 million at once and pay cash, and some companies even demand Shs 1 million upfront, which is not counted in the loan repayment.”
Joseph Lutwama, another resident, pointed to systemic exclusion from key government programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga.
“I can confidently say that we are segregated when it comes to government livelihood programs. The elders have overtaken the programs and are sharing money among their relatives,” Lutwama alleged.
He added that some youth have resorted to paying bribes, with little success.
“Some have paid over Shs 200,000 to access PDM funds, but their files are still pending. This has really demotivated us.”
Emmanuel Bossa, a boda boda rider from Nabisojjo village, decried the poor state of roads in the area.
“The Butalangu–Ngoma and Nabisojjo–Kirinda roads are full of potholes. In the rainy season, most of the swamps become impassable. It’s costing us a lot in mechanical repairs.”
Edirisa Ssenyonga shared a disturbing experience at Nakaseke Hospital.
“My wife had a C-section and we paid Shs 300,000 for the operation. Then they charged us Shs 70,000 just to discharge her. We bought all the medicine ourselves and I wondered, is this really a government hospital?”
Responding to the complaints, Minister Kyofatogabye admitted that the government had overlooked youth issues.
“We have received complaints from youths that we neglected them, and honestly, we didn’t take them seriously,” he acknowledged.
“We decided to focus on older people, and this cost us in the previous elections—we lost many constituencies in Bulemeezi County to the opposition.”
The Minister promised to follow up on the mismanagement of livelihood programs and urged the youth to actively participate in the 2026 general elections.
“I urge them to join politics starting with the NRM structure elections. This will give them a platform and a bigger voice to present their issues to the responsible people,” Kyofatogabye advised.
The dialogue underscored the growing rift between young voters and the ruling party NRM, with many warning that unaddressed grievances could deepen political disaffection in the district.
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