The Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) Party Presidential Candidate, Gregory Mugisha Muntu has framed Uganda’s future around three core issues he says must be tackled urgently: politicization of security, mass poverty, and the breakdown of justice and the rule of law.
1. Security under political capture
Speaking during the Presidential Candidate debate organized by Nation Media Group at Serena Hotel in Kampala on Sunday night, Gen. Muntu argued that Uganda’s security crisis is, at its root, a political problem, not merely a policing or military one.
He says the army, police, and intelligence services are often misused because they receive “wrong political orders” from leaders focused on clinging to power rather than serving citizens.
You cannot effectively deal with the security problem of the country unless you deal with the political question first,” he stresses.
According to him, many officers in uniform are patriotic, well-educated, and well-trained, but are pushed into unlawful actions by a leadership that places regime survival above professionalism.
Under an ANT government, Muntu says security institutions would be:
- Detached from partisan political control
- Guided strictly by the constitution and the law
- Allowed to professionalise and serve the nation, not individuals
This, he insists, is the first step to building a truly secure country.
2. Poverty as a fuel for insecurity
The second major issue Muntu highlights is the link between poverty and insecurity.
He points to rural communities where families are forced to sleep in the same houses as their animals because leaving them outside would almost certainly result in theft.
For him, this is a symptom of desperation, not just criminality.
“Even if you have half a million police officers on the beat, you cannot control people who are desperate, who need something to eat,” he notes.
Muntu argues that:
- Widespread poverty undermines public order
- Desperation pushes people into petty crime and conflict
- No amount of force can substitute for decent livelihoods
He says the only sustainable way to address this form of insecurity is deliberate investment in lifting people out of poverty, ensuring families have jobs, income, and the means to live with dignity.
3. Justice, peace, and the rule of law
The third issue Muntu raises is what he calls the “illusion of peace” in the absence of justice.
He challenges the narrative of those in power who speak of peace and stability while ignoring systematic injustice.
“Peace is not the absence of conflict; it is the presence of justice,” he insists, linking justice directly to stability and security.
According to Muntu:
- Using security agencies to suppress grievances creates a “time bomb”
- Silencing people does not resolve the underlying problems
- Countries that clamp down on dissent without justice often face violent eruptions later
He says an ANT-led government would begin by ensuring that the top leadership itself is fully subject to the constitution and the law.
This, he argues, provides:
- Security for citizens, who know their rights are protected
- Security for leaders, who can leave power without fear of reprisals if they governed within the law
“When those in power operate under the law, they don’t fear leaving power,” Muntu says.
4. Constitutional reform and political culture
Muntu also places constitutional reform on the agenda, particularly the restoration of presidential term limits and stronger checks on executive power.
He cites regional examples where constitutions were revised to reduce excessive presidential authority and strengthen democracy.
However, he cautions that:
- “Constitutions alone are not the issue.”
- Even the best constitution can be overridden if the political culture is weak.
He argues that Uganda’s real challenge is to build a leadership culture based on conviction, not convenience.
“Talk is cheap. Anyone can say the right things. What matters is whether leaders act out of conviction,” he points out, reflecting on more than six decades of regime changes without deep cultural transformation.
5. Changing the governance culture
For Muntu and the ANT, the long-term issue is the governance culture that keeps recycling the same problems, regardless of who is in power.
He says the party’s focus is:
- Not just on removing what Ugandans don’t want
- But on building systems and practices they do want—accountability, fairness, and inclusive leadership
He pledges a team-based style of leadership that draws from all corners of the country.
“We shall get men and women from every ethnic group, every sub-region, every religious group, to ensure that the best are at the core of the management of this country,” he says.
Quoting the saying “a fish rots from the head,” Muntu argues that transforming Uganda starts with transforming leadership at the very top, so that security, justice, and economic dignity are pursued as national priorities, not political conveniences.
In his issue-based vision, Uganda’s future stability rests on three pillars: politicized and professional security forces, a serious fight against poverty, and a leadership that respects the law and governs with justice at its centre.
