Buchaman regrets joining NRM, says his ideas were stolen by greedy officials

• Buchaman regrets joining NRM, saying his ghetto empowerment projects were hijacked by greedy members.
• Claims to have initiated ghetto SACCOs and youth skilling programs now credited to others.
• Says he’s taking a back seat from politics after repeated frustration and misuse of his ideas.

Former Firebase vice president Mark Bugembe, popularly known as Buchaman, has opened up about his regrets working with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), saying his contributions were “hijacked by greedy and selfish individuals.”

Buchaman, who was a close associate of NUP president Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) for over a decade, was appointed Presidential Advisor on Ghetto Affairs by President Yoweri Museveni about five years ago.

Speaking during an interview on Spark TV, the Temumatira singer revealed that he has been spending most of his time in Acholi, where he has been running several community projects aimed at empowering women and youth through agriculture and skilling initiatives.

“I have been upcountry in Acholi, working on empowering women and youths through agriculture and other projects,” Buchaman said.

However, the singer admitted that many of his initiatives often collapse midway because of interference from people with selfish interests.

“Most of my plans are hijacked by people who only think about their own gains,” he lamented.

Buchaman further claimed that he is the brain behind the ghetto structures and Boda Boda SACCOs in Kampala’s slum areas — projects that President Museveni has recently funded in a bid to counter NUP’s influence in urban centers.

“Those ghetto SACCOs you see being funded today were my ideas. I started them with Gen. Salim Saleh in Gulu before some people went behind my back and branded me a drug addict,” he revealed.

He added that such negative propaganda made the President distance himself from him and his activities.

The self-proclaimed Ghetto President accused some individuals within the NRM of being driven by greed and sabotaging efforts meant to strengthen the party’s support among urban youths.

“NRM is full of greedy people who frustrate genuine efforts. I was the one who made it possible for youths in ghettos to wear NRM T-shirts proudly,” Buchaman said.

Buchaman concluded by noting that he is taking a back seat from NRM’s activities, saying his ideas have been repeatedly “abused for selfish gains.”

“I’m no longer pushing hard for the party. My ideas are always stolen and misused,” he added.