The Busoga Sub-region Ghetto Structure Leaders' Retreat officially commenced yesterday, July 11, 2026, at Bishop Willis Center in Iganga Municipality, bringing together ghetto leaders from across the region for a three-day capacity-building programme.
The retreat organised by the Special Presidential Assistant-Press and Mobilization also Deputy Press Secretary to H.E the President, Alhaji Faruk Kirunda, in conjunction with Uganda Police's Crime Intelligence, has attracted leaders from 131 ghetto depots across Busoga and forms part of a broader government rehabilitation and empowerment initiative aimed at transforming ghetto communities, promoting responsible leadership, reducing crime, and integrating youth into national development programmes.
The programme is running under the theme: “Empowering the ghettos for a crime-free society”.
Addressing the participants, the Deputy Regional Police Commander (RPC) for Busoga East, Mr. Asumira Ahamed, cautioned the ghetto youth against being manipulated by self-serving politicians whom he
described as “misleaders.”
“We should ensure that we overcome the challenges facing our region. We must not allow misleaders to misguide our youth into engaging in wrongdoing,” Mr. Asumira said.
He urged the youth to embrace government wealth creation initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga, saying these programmes provide opportunities for economic empowerment
and poverty reduction.
“We should fully participate in income-generating activities that will help us fight poverty in Busoga and improve our livelihoods,” he added.
Mr. Asumira further encouraged ghetto leaders to build strong working relationships with security agencies, particularly the Uganda Police Force, to promote peace and security within their communities.
“As ghetto leaders, you should work closely with police leadership in your respective areas. You should also coordinate with key stakeholders,including the District Security Committees led by the Resident District
Commissioners (RDCs), to strengthen crime prevention efforts,” he said.
Speaking at the same retreat, the Patriotism Coordinator for Namutumba District, Mr. Godfrey Mukisa, commended President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for championing initiatives aimed at transforming ghetto
communities by reducing crime and integrating young people into national wealth creation programmes.
“We should use this opportunity provided by the government to transform our lives. The government is playing its part, and we must also play our part by taking advantage of these programmes,” Mr. Mukisa
said.
“We should demonstrate our appreciation by doing what is right and making productive use of the opportunities available to us.”
Mr. Mukisa also urged the youth to embrace patriotism by contributing positively to Uganda's development, stability, and prosperity.
“Genuine patriotism is about loving one's country while actively working to improve it,” he noted.
He further encouraged participants to acquire practical and technical skills that would enable them to become self-reliant through employment and entrepreneurship.
The retreat follows the recent election of ghetto structure leaders across the Busoga Sub-region and is expected to strengthen their leadership capacity while promoting community development, security, and socio- economic transformation.
