A Leadership Divided: Mubende at a Crossroads

Imagine a moment of great opportunity—Mubende Municipality and the entire district hosting the President of the Republic. A moment that should unify, inspire, and present a clear, shared vision of the people’s needs and aspirations.

But instead, we witnessed fractured leadership, where personal rivalries and unchecked egos overshadow the collective responsibility to serve. The leaders who were once symbols of unity under the BAMUDA umbrella have grown distant and disconnected. What was once a formidable alliance now lies in silence, and the people of Mubende are paying the price.

Amidst this kind of division, who then will speak for the voiceless?

How can the persistent issue of land grabbing, which has displaced countless families and sparked violent conflicts, be addressed when leaders are more invested in outshining each other than protecting their people?

How can we fight poor service delivery—from broken health systems, to underfunded schools, to impassable roads—when leaders cannot even sit at the same table?

How will rampant corruption in local government offices be dealt with when those in power are too busy defending their pride to clean their own houses?

What about the unfulfilled presidential pledges—the jobs promised to youth, the development projects that were never followed through, the infrastructure that was pledged but never built? Who dares to follow up when they can’t even support each other?

And who will speak for the many innocent souls rotting in prison over unresolved land disputes? Families torn apart by land conflicts cry out for justice every day. Their cases remain buried in files, while the voices meant to advocate for them are drowned in political noise.

When the President visits and sees a disjointed, self-absorbed leadership, what message does that send? It tells the nation that Mubende is not ready, not because its people aren’t hardworking or deserving, but because its leaders are too divided to lead.

This is not the time for pride. This is the time for self-reflection, reconciliation, and leadership that transcends personal interest. The people of Mubende need a common stand—a united voice that will challenge injustice, demand accountability, and fulfill the promises made to them.

Leadership is not a competition. It is a calling. And unless our leaders rise to that call together, Mubende will remain underrepresented, underdeveloped, and unheard.

The time to fix this is now. Before it’s too

Story by Hon Ronald Mugwabya