President Yoweri Museveni has disclosed that the government has allocated more funds to intensify the fight against household poverty in the country through the formation of different Avings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) that will manage the funds in their respective areas.
“We are going to add more funds which will be given to specialised groups. What you have to do is to form SACCOs according to your area of specialty and manage your funds,” he said.
The President was speaking at Kakyeeka Stadium in Mbarara Municipality yesterday at the one-day conference of leaders from Ankole Sub-Region. The President is currently in the area to sensitize wananchi on the wealth and job creation campaign with a view to helping households in the country to banish poverty.
Ankole Region in South Western Uganda comprises 12 Districts of Buhweju, Bushenyi, Ibanda, Isingiro, Kazo, Kiruhuura, Mbarara, Mitooma, Ntungamo, Rubirizi, Rwampara and Sheema.
The President informed the conference that government is going to replicate what has been done in parts of Kampala of providing common user facilities in all zones in the country in order to help youth groups generate income for their families through manufacturing. He noted that the country has continued to import from China and other countries despite the abundant resources that Uganda is endowed with.
He further informed the conference that government is going to set up a leather tanning industry in Luweero District so that the sector becomes a source of raw materials for people who wish to make different products like shoes, among others.
“Uganda is rich but imports from China. To fight poverty, we have to produce from here,” he stressed.
Mr. Museveni emphasized the need for leaders at all levels to take up the responsibility of sensitising people in their respective areas on the methods to employ to fight against household poverty. He said the economic battle should be everyone’s responsibility where wananchi have to work for both food and income security to be able to meet their modern-day money demands.
He disclosed that all efforts have been directed at development so that the 68% of the Ugandans, who are still wallowing in substance farming and constitute a big challenge the country, are assisted to embrace modern-day commercial production. He noted that the population who are in subsistence farming do not contribute to the development of the country yet demand services such as health, among others. He, therefore, called on the people of Uganda to engage in modern commercial farming to be able to meet day-to-day challenges.
President Museveni noted NRM has registered development in the country but asked the people appreciate the need to differentiate development from wealth creation. He explained that while development is outside and is for everybody, wealth is on the individual basis and affects a family. He, therefore, urged wananchi to embrace commercial farming to improve the standard of living and eventually improve life expectancy.
On their part, leaders from Ankole Sub-Region joined their counterparts from other parts of the country and passed a resolution to have President Museveni as the NRM candidate come 2021 general elections.
The resolution was read by Mbarara LC5 Chairperson, Rtd. Lt. John Bosco Bamuturaki Tumusiime and supported by all the Chairpersons from all the districts of the Sub-Region. They saluted President Museveni for his resolve to fight poverty in the country.