President Museveni has explained government’s delay in tarmacking the Nabumali–Butaleja–Namutumba and Tororo–Nagongera–Busolwe roads in Butaleja district.
Whereas UNRA had in 2022 listed the two roads among those to be tarmacked, the works are yet to start.
Addressing a rally at Butaleja Booma Grounds on Friday afternoon, Museveni admitted there was a delay in working on the roads but said there is light at the end of the tunnel.
“Now we have got money for them and a contractor has already been identified. That problem will be solved,” he said.
The NRM presidential candidate however said the delay was not government’s making but other factors.
“The delay is caused by the people bringing too many things for budgeting. You need to work according to plan like we did in the bush of one by one to make a bundle. But here people touch too many things. That’s why the one which is important is not addressed because they scatter,” he said.
Museveni asked Members of Parliament and the population to learn how government works.
“If you say you want this and that at the same time, it is not good. You scatter resources and you don’t concentrate to finish something. Otherwise, we would have done these roads long ago. The main reason for delaying is scattering.”
“For example, we have been having a strike of teachers recently. We were struggling to get money for Nabumali-Butaleja – Namutumba road and others but our children(teachers) were saying you must give us money now or else we won’t work. What sort of country is that?”
Museveni insisted that government doesn’t have enough funds to do all things it wants to do but the crucial ones like roads must take precedent.
He however warned it is wrong for the population to keep making demands when government hasn’t yet worked on the priorities.
“All of us must learn that because we don’t do things by magic but because of the money, we can do a few things at ago.”
He however reaffirmed government’s commitment to work on all infrastructure development in form of roads, schools, health centres among others.
Wealth creation
Museveni however warned the population against focusing too much on development and ignore creating wealth for themselves.
He insisted there is a big difference between wealth and development, adding that development doesn’t necessarily lead to development.
“You can have development but have poverty in your home. In 1965, I came with a team of students from Ntare to play football and cricket with Teso College. We passed through the Tororo road and was already tarmacked that time. And we have done it several times since. Development has been there for over 60 years but if you go there even today, you will find some people are poor because they didn’t get our message of distinguishing between wealth and development,” Museveni said.
He urged the population to make use of government programs like Parish Development Model and Emyooga to fight poverty.
“ I am happy people of this area learnt growing rice long ago, especially the Doho one. Whatever you do must be done with calculation.”
