President Yoweri Museveni has said the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) is becoming a problem and that despite the progress in the road infrastructure development across the country, the Authority that receives Shs. 1,700 billion per annum mainly for the construction of tarmac roads has nothing much to account for the funds it has been receiving.

UNRA is one of the products of the Roads Sector Reforms charged with establishing a robust administration for effective and efficient management of the national roads network. Its work has however been marred by allegations of corruption and delays on major contracts.

Speaking at a meeting he called for leaders at the grassroots and Resident District Commissioners across the country at State House in Entebbe, President Museveni said plans are underway by government to procure and provide more road construction equipment to the local government since it has utilized well the equipment so far received.

The President was irked by reports that some people were obstructing palm oil investors in Kalangala District, arguing that it is wrong for people to frustrate industries that are employing the growing number of youth.

“Kalangala islands have had prosperity resulting from the palm oil project that was established in the area. It is wrong for the industries employing the youth to be frustrated. The District has recorded tremendous progress since the inception of the palm oil project. I urge you leaders to support the various investors in the country because they have supported the economy by among others providing employment for our children,” he said.

The President said that the NRM government has made good progress mainly by practicing a number of principles including recognising that the prosperity of the people of Africa does not depend on tribalism but patriotism and nationalism. He said that our future is based on prosperity and security and that prosperity means production of wealth at the family level.

He informed the leaders that some countries in Africa have suffered from tribalism, giving the example of South Sudan where several people were recently killed in large numbers.

President Museveni said that social economic transformation was crucial and observed that people need an education as a prerequisite to development and modernization. He added that democracy was one of the major principles that have enabled the country to grow and warned leaders against the vice of giving money to the voters. He stressed that they should stop using personal money to run the districts and constituencies.