Kadaga Has Failed Busoga for 30 Years

By a Concerned and Proud Musoga:

Busoga Sub-region, once a cultural and agricultural cornerstone in eastern Uganda, remains deeply entrenched in poverty and underdevelopment — a stark contradiction for a region that has had one of its own, Rt Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, occupying top leadership positions in the country for the past 30 years.

Despite her tenure as Speaker of Parliament, First Deputy Prime Minister, and now Minister for East African Affairs, Busoga’s socio-economic status continues to paint a grim picture. The region remains one of the poorest in Uganda, with the Uganda Bureau of Statistics reporting a poverty rate of 29.2%, well above the national average of 20.3%. In some rural areas — including Kamuli, where Kadaga hails from — over 90% of households reportedly struggle to afford basic necessities such as soap and salt.

Health indicators are equally alarming. Just recently, Busoga again made headlines due to mass jigger infestations — a condition tied to extreme poverty and poor hygiene. This has left many residents wondering: What has our leader done to change this? In 2010, nine out of the region’s eleven districts were affected, and despite proposed government interventions such as a UShs 2 billion jigger eradication fund, the problem persists to this day.

Leaders and residents alike are now openly voicing their frustrations. Last year, during a public event in Jinja City, Senior Presidential Advisor Hadija Namyalo questioned why Busoga remains impoverished despite having some of the most senior cabinet ministers in the country. Her sentiments echoed a growing regional concern: that Kadaga’s national influence has failed to translate into local development. Has Busoga been forgotten — or simply neglected?

“Busoga is rich in ministers but poor in reality,” Namyalo remarked, calling on leaders to stop using their positions to settle political scores and instead focus on real, tangible development.

Further compounding the region’s woes are internal political rivalries, most notably between Kadaga and the Kyabazinga Kingdom. This long-standing feud — which included high-profile disagreements over traditional leadership — has created deep divisions that reportedly discouraged investors and disrupted efforts for unified development. Many now believe that Kadaga should step away from Busoga’s affairs for the region to heal and progress.

More controversially, local leaders and rising politicians have accused Kadaga of using her influence to intimidate or suppress leaders who do not align with her politically. This alleged culture of political gatekeeping, they argue, has stifled fresh ideas and discouraged the emergence of new leadership that could lift Busoga out of poverty.

“Kadaga has been at the high table for over 30 years, but Busoga has remained at the bottom of every national development index,” said one political analyst. “If leadership is measured by results, then it’s time for a serious evaluation.”

As the national spotlight turns once again to Busoga’s persistent struggles, many in the region are asking hard questions: How did a region with such prominent representation remain so marginalized? And who will finally deliver the change Busoga so desperately needs?

For a region rich in culture, potential, and political visibility, the paradox of Busoga’s poverty remains not only an indictment of its leadership — but increasingly, a direct criticism of Kadaga’s legacy.

Now, many eyes are turning to Rt Hon Anita Among, who has delivered significant progress in a short time for her home region of Teso — raising hopes that perhaps Busoga too can find a new path with new leadership.