President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on the people of Bunyoro to embrace wealth creation initiatives such as commercial agriculture to combat poverty, boost household incomes, and create employment.
Addressing youth at the Bunyoro Youth Empowerment Symposium in Masindi Museveni emphasised that while infrastructure development is essential, it alone will not solve household poverty.
“There is a difference between development and wealth. Government can develop the country through providing roads, electricity, and hospitals, but it cannot put food on your table or create wealth for you. You need to work to eliminate poverty from your homes,” Museveni said.
The symposium, organised by the Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs, Hon. Balaam Barugahara, aimed at addressing youth unemployment and promoting community development in Bunyoro.
According to Barugahara, Masindi, like many urban areas, has experienced rising unemployment, particularly among the youth, leading to increased urban crime.
Museveni reiterated to the youth that the key to eradicating poverty is wealth creation, which goes hand in hand with development and job creation.
He urged people to distinguish between public infrastructure, which benefits everyone, and wealth, which benefits individual households.
“Wealth enables you to build a good house. Even if you have electricity in the area, you will not have it in your home if you don’t have the money to pay for it. A tarmac road may pass by your home, but you will remain poor if you don’t work to improve your income,” Museveni said, citing examples of impoverished communities in Bunyoro that have benefited from infrastructure yet still suffer from poverty.
Reflecting on his personal experience, the president shared that when he introduced dairy farming in North Ankole and Kiruhura in the 1960s, there were no roads or electricity.
“In 1967, when I bought land in Rwakitura, the area was bushy and undeveloped, but I became rich through farming. By the time the good roads and electricity arrived, I was already selling milk and beef,” he explained.
Museveni urged the people of Bunyoro to focus on the basics of wealth creation, assuring them that other developments would follow.
He promised to return to the region for a detailed discussion on the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, and infrastructure challenges.
The president encouraged residents to adopt his “4-acre model,” which promotes agricultural diversification.
The model suggests dedicating one acre to coffee cultivation, another to fruit trees, the third to staple crops for household consumption, and the fourth to pasture for livestock.
Additionally, backyard poultry and piggery farming were recommended as viable income-generating activities.
He praised successful farmers like Hon. Fred Byamukama, Minister of State for Transport, who reportedly earns Shs 800 million annually through a combination of coffee, poultry, piggery, and dairy farming, all on a 4-acre farm.
Another model farmer, Richard Nyakana of Kana Farm in Rwengaju village, Kabarole district, earns a substantial income from a single acre, producing 120 litres of milk per day and 102 trays of eggs, while also providing jobs for 15 people.
Museveni further urged the youth to take advantage of government programs such as the Emyooga and the PDM, both designed to lift families out of poverty.
He highlighted the government’s allocation of Shs 100 million per parish annually, stressing that families should borrow and return funds within 24 months.
“In three years, each parish will receive Shs 300 million. The goal is to empower 100 homesteads per parish every year,” he noted.
During the event, the president promised Shs 260 million to rehabilitate Kabalega Primary School, Shs 20 million for boda boda SACCOs, and 14 tractors to be shared by religious institutions across Bunyoro.
He also addressed the region’s infrastructure concerns, committing Shs 1 billion to rehabilitate Masindi Hospital, with work set to begin soon.
The ceremony was attended by several government officials, including Finance Minister Matia Kasaija, Minister of State for Bunyoro Affairs Jennifer Namuyangu, and other leaders.
Ministers in attendance included Phiona Nyamutooro (Minerals), Alice Kaboyo (Luwero Triangle and Rwenzori Region), Mary Mugasa (Public Service), Fred Byamukama (Transport), Jacob Oboth Oboth (Defence), Beatrice Akello (Economic Monitoring), Victoria Rusoke (Local Government), and Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua Denis.
Other attendees included members of Parliament, LC5 chairpersons, and district leaders from Masindi, Kakumiro, Kikuube, Kiryandongo, Hoima, Fort Portal, and religious leaders.
