President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged leaders of Gomba and Sembabule districts to focus on promoting wealth creation among households.
“What you should emphasize is wealth creation in homes because these other things are meant to waste your time, and even leaders who take you in politicking are just keeping you in poverty,” he said.
President Museveni made these remarks while meeting political leaders and elders from Sembabule and Gomba districts at State House Entebbe.
He recalled his disagreement in the 1960s with some Democratic Party (DP) leaders who suggested denouncing government development programs after the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) allegedly rigged the 1962 elections.
“In the 1960s, I was a member of the DP and UPC stole the elections of 1962. Some leaders told us to denounce all government development programs because UPC had hijacked the government,” he said.
“I didn’t agree with Mzee Byanyima. I said this is a big loss. We had elections in 1962; the next election would be in 1967. It was a long time to tell my DP followers to denounce development because UPC had hijacked the government. I told Mzee Byanyima that UPC has hijacked the government, but it has not hijacked farming, so let us do our farming. When you see this awakening in the cattle corridor, we started that time in the 1960s.”he added
President Museveni emphasized that with stable incomes, the people they lead would improve their livelihoods and become prosperous.
“Once you have got income, you can put water harvesting in your house because you have the money. Even before the water from the government comes, you have the capacity to have your own water. Even if the electricity has not come, you can have solar power, biogas from cow dung, so seek household incomes first; the rest will be added onto you,” the President urged.
He asked the leaders to promote wealth creation among households, stating that once this issue is resolved, other challenges would be easier to address.
He also urged the leaders to educate locals about government programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM) to fight poverty. “With the Parish Development Model, each parish gets Shs100m, and we want everybody to get a loan of Shs1m. The Shs1m can help you grow coffee on one acre or buy three goats to start with. When 100 people do well with the project, they become good examples in the parish, and others would copy them the following year. The good thing is to start so that others copy you,” he said.
During the meeting President Museveni discussed health issues, emphasizing preventive health and the importance of Health Centre III. He noted that these centers provide immunization, midwifery, health inspection, and treatment, suggesting the need for larger hospitals to handle serious health issues.
The President criticized some leaders for failing to use the National Resistance Movement (NRM) governance structure to ensure effective service delivery and reiterated his stance against unfair landlords. “Land grabbing should not exist. All those who take part should be in prison; we have enough space for them,” he warned.
Hon. Anifah Kawooya, the Minister of State for Health (General Duties), thanked the President for his wealth creation efforts that have driven development in Gomba and Sembabule. “Your Excellency, we thank you for the Parish Development Model initiative. It has done wonders in Sembabule. Our people have been able to grow coffee, buy boda bodas and cars because of the PDM program,” she said.
Hon. Mary Begumisa, the Sembabule District Woman Member of Parliament, praised the President for the sustainable peace and development in Uganda. On behalf of the delegation, she pledged continued support for the NRM Manifesto, which aims to transform the country socially and economically.
“Your Excellency, these people love you so much, and they are key in sensitizing locals to embrace government projects,” she said.
She also thanked President Museveni for supporting coffee production in Sembabule, highlighting the crop’s high prices and market demand, and requested a coffee processing plant for value addition.
Hon. Robina Rwakoojo, the Gomba West County Member of Parliament, appreciated the President for his poverty alleviation program in nine selected villages of Gomba and Sembabule, which has fostered prosperity among the people.
Kiviiri Geofrey, the Gomba District LCV Chairperson, asked the President to help tenants being frustrated by some landlords by purchasing land for them through the Land Fund.
Ssalongo Ben Mukiibi, an elder and war veteran from Nyabitanga sub-county, Sembabule District, reminded President Museveni of his contribution to the 1981-1986 liberation struggle that brought the NRM government to power.
“I thank Hon. Begumisa for bringing me to you, and I thank you for accepting to meet us,” he said.
The meeting also included Lwemiyaga County MP Hon. Theodore Ssekikubo, Mawogola North MP Hon. Shartsi Musherure, district chairpersons, RDCs, religious leaders, LC3 Chairpersons, and NRM leaders, among others.
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