President Yoweri Museveni has rejected a proposal from Bukedi leaders to allow rice cultivation in wetlands.
The Bukedi region, including districts like Butaleja, Budaka, and Pallisa among others, relies heavily on rice growing, but the government is working to restore wetlands through the National Environment Management Authority.
While reading a memorandum at Budaka district Saza play ground this Thursday during President Museveni’s campaign rally, the district NRM Chairperson Musa Chebene said that they want government to allow people to continue cultivating rice in wetlands.
He says in Bukedi region, majority of the people depend on rice growing as their main economic activity but since the government started removing them from wetlands, they have been affected economically.
However in the response, President Museveni urged people from the Bukedi region to change their mindsets by doing fish farming at swamps rather than rice growing.
The president said that fish farming is highly profitable and friendly to the environment compared to growing rice.
Museveni urged people of the Bukedi region to grow other crops like coffee and cotton, while also practicing poultry and pig rearing using Parish Development Money.
Museveni is expected to be at Butaleja and Tororo tomorrow on Friday, according to the Elect0ral commission roadmap.
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