Uganda's Ankole region demands jobs, security, and trade reforms ahead of President's address

Residents and business leaders in Uganda's Ankole sub-region are expressing high expectations for President Yoweri Museveni's upcoming State of the Nation Address, demanding tangible solutions to economic and security challenges. Following the President's recent inauguration and the formation of a new Cabinet, there is a palpable hope for policy interventions that directly address the region's pressing issues.

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The enforcement was too harsh. People were just trying to earn a living, and now they have nowhere to go. We need the government to regulate, not destroy our livelihoods. I hope the President addresses this issue comprehensively.

A central point of contention is the implementation of recent trade order enforcement measures. While authorities claim these directives aim to improve urban business operations and planning, many traders argue that the enforcement has been overly harsh, disrupting their livelihoods and supply chains. Agatha Atuhaire, a resident of Mbarara City, voiced concerns that informal traders are struggling to adapt, stating, "The enforcement was too harsh. People were just trying to earn a living, and now they have nowhere to go. We need the government to regulate, not destroy our livelihoods."

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Our businesses are suffocating. You cannot chase people away from the streets without first providing a designated and functional market space. Many people are waiting to hear how the government plans to ensure that everyone genuinely participates in the money economy, not just in theory but in reality.

Alongside economic anxieties, residents have raised alarms about increasing insecurity, particularly concerning burglary, theft, and youth-related crime. Lawyer and political analyst Moses Nuwagaba highlighted the direct correlation between rising crime rates and high youth unemployment. "There is a direct correlation between rising crime rates and the high levels of youth unemployment in Ankole," Nuwagaba stated. "When young people have no income opportunities, desperation can set in."

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There is a direct correlation between rising crime rates and the high levels of youth unemployment in Ankole. When young people have no income opportunities, desperation can set in.

Political analyst Sir Khoikhoi added that security measures alone are insufficient without addressing the root causes of crime, emphasizing the need for economic empowerment. "The security apparatus can only do so much. If we do not solve the root cause, which is unemp...", he noted, underscoring the interconnectedness of economic distress and security concerns in the Ankole region.

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You cannot invest in farming and expect a harvest when insecurity remains unchecked. The President should strengthen the capacity of the police force while also addressing the financial distress many citizens are experiencing.