KAMPALA - An 87-year-old critically ill man has made a public appeal to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to honour a multi-part pledge made over seven years ago, in a case that spotlights the enduring issue of political promises and state accountability in the region. Dr. Martin Kato Mugambwa, a retired agriculturalist and author from Mukono District, says the president’s unfulfilled promises from March 2018 for medical care and resolution of land disputes have left him in a desperate situation.

According to reports from Uganda’s Daily Monitor newspaper, President Museveni made the pledge while presiding over the opening of factories at the Mbalala Industrial Park in Mukono. The promises to Dr. Mugambwa were specific and substantial, including a commitment to facilitate and pay for his specialised medical treatment, intervene in a land dispute involving 10 acres, compensate him for 1.5 acres acquired by Kampala city authorities, and finance the reprinting of his books.

As of Thursday, 27th November 2025, none of these undertakings have been met, according to Dr. Mugambwa and his family. His health has severely deteriorated; he is reportedly battling cancer, hypertension, and diabetes, conditions that have left him wheelchair-bound for the last three years. “I have been unable to walk for three years now because I do not get timely treatment,” Dr. Mugambwa stated in an interview at his home. “The President promised to take care of me, but the fulfilment is long overdue.” His family says the medical bills have become impossible to manage.

A Pattern of Pledges

Dr. Mugambwa's case is not an isolated incident but rather emblematic of a wider governance challenge in Uganda concerning presidential pledges. A 2013 report from a Ugandan parliamentary committee on Government Assurances identified 817 undelivered presidential pledges, some dating as far back as 1990. The report highlighted a growing list of commitments made on campaign trails and during official functions that often remain unfulfilled for years, if not decades. In 2016, the State House Comptroller informed parliament that unfulfilled presidential pledges had reached 150 billion Ugandan Shillings, attributing the issue in part to a widespread “begging culture” where citizens and politicians directly solicit the president for financial aid.

This practice raises critical questions about governance structures and public finance management, issues that resonate deeply within Kenya and the broader East African Community. While leaders often make populist promises to address immediate citizen concerns, the failure to follow through can erode public trust and undermine formal state institutions designed to deliver services and justice.

Land, Livelihood, and Legacy

Beyond the urgent need for medical care, Dr. Mugambwa’s plea involves significant disputes over land—a critical and often volatile issue in East Africa. One of the president's pledges was to intervene after Dr. Mugambwa’s 10-acre property in Nabutiti, Makindye Division, was allegedly encroached upon. According to his son, Godfrey Kimera, the family has been unable to act on court orders regarding the land because the president had personally promised to handle the matter. “Since 2018, nothing has been done,” Mr. Kimera stated. A further promise related to compensation for a separate 1.5-acre parcel taken by city authorities.

The pledge to reprint Dr. Mugambwa’s books points to the personal and cultural dimension of the promise, intended to secure the legacy of a retired professional. The lack of follow-up on this aspect, alongside the more critical health and land issues, paints a picture of comprehensive neglect.

Calls for Accountability

In a formal attempt to seek resolution, Dr. Mugambwa, through his son Henry Sentongo, sent a letter dated 28th October 2025 to the President’s Principal Private Secretary. The letter reportedly requests a meeting to finally address the 2018 pledge, framing it as a matter of the president’s duty to protect citizens and their property. Efforts by Ugandan media to get a comment from the Deputy Press Secretary to the President were inconclusive, with the official stating he would need to review the directive before responding.

For observers in Kenya, where political promises are a staple of public life and a constant subject of media scrutiny and public debate, Dr. Mugambwa’s long wait serves as a powerful case study. It underscores the challenge citizens face in holding executive power to account and highlights the critical role of civil society and a free press in consistently questioning the gap between political rhetoric and tangible action.