President Museveni Urges Women Leaders to Prioritize Economic Empowerment Over Politics

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged women leaders to focus on promoting participation in the money economy rather than engaging in politics. Speaking at a gathering of the National Women’s Council and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Women’s League at State House-Entebbe, President Museveni emphasized the importance of every household joining the money economy, advocating for the adoption of the four-acre farming model for those with small land holdings.

He advised women leaders to encourage small landholders to adopt the four-acre model, where the first acre is allocated to coffee cultivation, the second to fruit production, the third to food crops for the family, and the fourth to pasture for animals, while backyard areas can be utilized for poultry, piggery, and fish farming in ponds.

President Museveni highlighted the potential of this approach to combat poverty through commercial agriculture and promised to arrange a visit for women leaders to witness successful examples of wealth creation, such as Mr. Richard Nyakana of Rwengaju, Fort Portal, and his neighbors in Kisozi, Gomba.

Additionally, he suggested that aside from commercial agriculture, people could engage in the Emyooga program and small-scale manufacturing, like shoemaking and tailoring, to alleviate poverty. He also encouraged embracing the services sector, including transportation, healthcare, and education, as well as the fourth sector, ICT, to improve economic prospects.

President Museveni underscored the NRM’s commitment to addressing people’s needs over identity-based politics, citing security as a primary concern that, once addressed, contributed to the party’s popularity. He urged NRM members to advocate for poverty alleviation using the party’s principles.

In response, Hajjat Faridah Kibowa, Chairperson of the National Women’s Council, expressed gratitude to President Museveni for his support of women in leadership roles and conveyed the league’s desire for him to run for the presidency again in 2026 and beyond.

The meeting also saw the attendance of Hon. Betty Amongi, the Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development.