President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has challenged residents of Kakumiro District and the wider Bunyoro sub-region to prioritise wealth creation programmes as the surest path to socio-economic transformation and poverty reduction.
The President made the remarks on Monday while addressing a campaign rally at Kakeka Grounds in Kakumiro Town Council.
Museveni urged residents to join what he described as the money economy, anchored on four key sectors—commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
He called on the population to take advantage of the prevailing peace to work hard and increase household incomes through government wealth creation initiatives such as NAADS, Emyooga, Operation Wealth Creation, Parish Development Model (PDM), Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP), and Youth Livelihood Programmes, which he said inject money directly into communities.
According to the President, while infrastructure such as roads, electricity, schools, and hospitals remains important, true transformation is realised when households generate income.
Museveni said Uganda has adequate resources, but the challenge lies in changing attitudes and implementing practical strategies to turn potential into tangible wealth.
He tasked local leaders to sensitise communities on wealth creation, noting that wealth addresses most challenges—apart from freedom, which he said is provided by the government.
The President emphasised that socio-economic transformation is impossible if households remain stuck in subsistence farming, urging residents to shift to commercial agriculture.
He said the fertile land in Bunyoro presents a unique opportunity to boost household incomes and reduce poverty. Museveni highlighted the four-acre model, under which one acre is allocated to coffee, another to fruit trees, a third to food crops for household consumption, and the fourth to pasture for livestock.
He explained that the model also supports poultry, piggery, and fish farming in ponds, enabling families to earn steady incomes within a short time.
President Museveni further cautioned Ugandans against waiting for government employment, noting that public sector jobs are limited and cannot absorb the growing population. He encouraged citizens to take advantage of opportunities in the private sector, which he said offers millions of jobs.
The President warned against equating infrastructure development with wealth distribution, observing that poverty persists even in urban areas with modern amenities. He promised to upgrade Kakumiro Health Centre IV to a district hospital and elevate existing Health Centre IIIs to Health Centre IVs to improve healthcare delivery. Museveni also pledged to tarmac the Kisiita–Nkoko–Masodde and Ntwetwe–Kiboga roads.
The NRM Chairperson for Kakumiro District, who also doubles as the State Minister for Transport, Fred Byamukama, praised President Museveni’s commitment to Uganda’s transformation, citing improvements in education, health, electricity, and road infrastructure. Byamukama appealed for the urgent elevation of Kakumiro Health Centre IV to district hospital status, saying the facility is overstretched due to a growing population.
He also called for government intervention to secure ready markets for agricultural produce, saying farmers are often exploited by middlemen. Byamukama further requested the elevation of Kisiita Town Council to district status to improve service delivery.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, who is also the Kakumiro Woman Member of Parliament, commended the President for improving the road network in the Bunyoro sub-region. She also applauded the government for constructing the Kakumiro District Headquarters at 3.6 billion shillings.
President Museveni has concluded his campaign engagements in the Bunyoro sub-region and is expected to continue his tour in the Buganda region, starting with Mubende District.
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