Museveni Warns Chiefs to Ride Bicycles, Condemns Rising ‘Entitlement Culture’ in Local Government

By Peterson Hiirya.

President Yoweri Museveni has issued a stern warning to local government chiefs, telling them to abandon demands for motorcycles and instead rely on bicycles as he condemned what he described as a growing culture of entitlement in Uganda’s public service.

Museveni said some local leaders have drifted away from the principles of service and self-reliance, instead focusing on personal comfort and government facilitation, which he argued is draining public resources and weakening accountability at the grassroots level.

“I used to ride a bicycle from Kazo to Rwakitura. Today, you hear a Muluka Chief demanding a motorcycle. For what? Let them ride bicycles,” the President said, stressing that leaders must prioritize service delivery over privileges.

He accused some officials of developing what he termed a “dependency mindset,” warning that constant demands for allowances, transport, and other facilitation risks creating inefficiency in local administration and undermining development efforts.

“I am tired of this culture of parasitism and entitlement. This is the time to speak plainly and honestly,” Museveni added, in remarks that underscored his long-standing push for austerity and self-sufficiency in government.

The President further argued that leadership should be rooted in sacrifice, discipline, and responsibility, saying that public office is not meant for personal enrichment but for serving citizens effectively.

Museveni’s comments come at a time when government spending and the cost of running local administrative structures are under increasing public scrutiny, with debates ongoing over whether officials are sufficiently facilitated to perform their duties, especially in rural areas with poor transport infrastructure.

While some local leaders have previously defended the need for motorcycles and other logistical support to reach remote communities and deliver services effectively, Museveni insisted that excessive demands reflect poor prioritization and weak commitment to duty.

His remarks are expected to reignite debate over working conditions for local government officials versus government efforts to control expenditure and promote fiscal discipline.

The President has repeatedly promoted a leadership philosophy centered on hard work, simplicity, and self-reliance, often citing his early life experiences as examples of the values he expects public servants to uphold.