Greater Masaka, Mpigi roadside vendors get Museveni cash

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President Yoweri Museveni has continued to offer financial support to roadside market vendors, with an aim of improving their household incomes.

For the last three years, the President, through a team of officials from State House, has been traversing roadside markets along major highways, giving support to vendors in what is called the business booster package, where each vendor receives shillings 100,000 as additional capital to their small enterprises.

During a two-day visit to roadside markets along Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara highway from June 4-5, 2025, a team from State House, led by senior presidential advisor (elderly) Princess Pauline Nassolo and special presidential assistant in charge of women Affairs Flora Kabibi, delivered the package to 607 vendors who operate from nine markets, which include Kyabagonya Market, Kabalungi Market, Kakinga Market (all in Lwengo district), Kyabakuza Market, Kabale-Bugonzi in Masaka, Mbizzinya market in Mpigi.

The vendors generally deal in agricultural produce, fast foods, chicken and meat muchomo and beverages.

(PPU PHOTO)

(PPU PHOTO)

Princess Nassolo informed the vendors that President Museveni mainly focuses on improving the livelihoods of all Ugandans, citing it as a reason he has always come up with various poverty eradication initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga.

She said the President opted to directly support them financially in order to enable them to sustain their businesses so that they are able to stabilise their household incomes.

“When we came here at first, we asked you whether you have benefited from PDM or Emyooga. You said no! So, we went back and briefed H.E. the President about it. He decided to send you this financial support, which you are supposed to inject into your businesses as you wait to benefit from other government programs,” she said.

Nassolo also cautioned the vendors against misusing the Presidential support. “Mzee has given you this money as additional capital for your businesses. Use it well. Invest the money in business, then enjoy the profits.”

She reiterated President Museveni’s call to Ugandans to embrace government development programmes to fight poverty and improve their livelihoods.

Kabibi also called upon the vendors to always vote for selfless leaders who are concerned about their wellbeing.

“President Museveni has been exemplary. He cares for you, and that's why he has sent this support to you. He supports you and you too, you should support him and the NRM government,” she said.

“However small the support may be, please utilise it well to grow your businesses.”

A roadside market vendor at Kabalungi market along the Lwengo Masaka highway expresses excitement on receiving financial boosts from State House officials to boost her tomato business on Wednesday, June. (PPU Photo)

(PPU Photo)

Kyabagonya market chairperson Kaggwa Yahya Ssentongo thanked President Museveni for the financial support, saying that they were going to utilise the money well to expand their businesses.

“We are going to add this capital into our businesses. Thank you, President Museveni, for the support,” he said.

Nakigona Allen, another vendor in Kyabagonya market, said she had insufficient capital of shillings 30,000 in her yellow banana business, and she was almost running bankrupt but with President Museveni’s financial support, she was going to revive her enterprise by adding more capital.

“President Museveni thank you for this support. We are also going to support you in 2026, and we pray that you win another term in Office.”

Nuriat Namale, the vice-chairperson of Kabalungi Market also expressed gratitude to President Museveni for the support to roadside market vendors.

“Your Excellency, we are going to add this money into our businesses to improve our household incomes,” she assured.

On the other hand, the chairperson of Kakinga Market, Stella Nalwadda noted, “We are very happy Mzee, for this package, it has been well received. Thank you for caring for the ordinary Ugandans. You are one of a kind.”

In Kyabakuza market, Baker Makumbi, a fish seller, commended Nassolo and her team for being transparent and true to their word.

“They came here two months back and registered us. Now they are back with what they promised. Your Excellency, thank you very much, I have received the money,” he said.

The Chairperson of Kyabakuza Market, Kaggwa Fulegensio, also lauded the President for economically empowering Ugandans through various programs aimed at fighting poverty.

“Your Excellency, we are going to add this money into our small businesses and ensure that they grow.”

(PPU Photo)

(PPU Photo)

Another beneficiary from Kabale-Bugonzi market, Andrew Kayondo, said, “We thought it was a joke when they registered our names at first, but they have proved us wrong. President Museveni’s team has delivered. We have received the money.”

Madrine Nassanga, a vendor at Mbizzinya market, revealed that she will forever be indebted to President Museveni for the financial support towards her beverage business.