President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has announced plans to significantly boost mechanics operating across Kampala city through increased government funding and the establishment of shared, government-owned facilities.

The proposal was made on Sunday during a meeting between the President and mechanics from Kampala’s five city divisions at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds. The engagement focused on improving access to capital, tools, land, and infrastructure for artisans in the automotive sector.

Museveni urged mechanics to organize themselves into division-based Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) to benefit from government financial support under a revolving fund arrangement similar to the Parish Development Model (PDM).

“The division is not too big. People can come to the division. So, there you can go and you get your 4 million for the personal tools, 700,000 for the whatever,” Museveni said.

Under the proposed arrangement, each division-based SACCO is set to receive Shs1 billion, which members will access as loans to purchase tools and equipment. The funds will be repaid to allow the money to revolve and benefit more mechanics.

The President acknowledged that earlier allocations to mechanics were insufficient and said the increased funding would address long-standing challenges faced by garage operators.

“I agree that the 100 million is small. You can add on,” he said.

Museveni emphasized that his meeting with the mechanics was conducted in his official capacity as President of Uganda, not as a political candidate.

“That’s why I came here today as president of Uganda, not as a candidate,” he said.

Shared Garages and Government-Owned Equipment

In addition to financial support, Museveni outlined plans for government to acquire land in Kampala where common user facilities will be established. These sites will house heavy and expensive machinery to be shared by mechanics within each division.

“The land should remain government land. And the machines we put there should remain government property,” Museveni said.

He explained that the facilities would be managed through leadership structures agreed upon by the mechanics, with clear accountability to ensure sustainability.

According to the President, similar models under the PDM have demonstrated success and can be replicated to support artisans and small-scale entrepreneurs.

Calls for Health Insurance and Inclusive Support

During the meeting, mechanics appealed for additional interventions, including the introduction of a health insurance scheme to protect workers in a sector characterized by unstable incomes and occupational risks. Others requested government support in securing land, citing frequent evictions from their workplaces.

Museveni said government would study the proposals, including health insurance, while stressing the importance of preventive healthcare.

He also pledged to establish special funds for women working in garages and another program aimed at helping commercial sex workers transition to alternative livelihoods.

Extension to Wakiso and Mukono

The President further announced that similar support programs would be extended to Wakiso and Mukono districts, which host a large number of mechanics serving the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.

Museveni reaffirmed government’s commitment to supporting mechanics and other artisans, noting that effective organization, transparency, and accountability in managing public funds would be key to the success of the initiatives.