Museveni says Ugandans are poor because they work for their stomachs

President Museveni has said despite the country being rich, Ugandans are still poor because they only work for their stomachs.

Museveni made the remarks on Monday during a wealth creation rally at Ngoma sub-county headquarters in Nakaseke district.

“This country is rich but its people are poor because they work for their stomachs. If you only work for the stomach, you get what to eat but other needs remain,”Museveni said.

“If you only work for the stomach, how will you be able to get money for education, shelter and clothing?”

Museveni said it is not bad to rear local breeds but noted that it should be done alongside the exotic ones to produce milk for sale and earn some money.

He said while carrying out agriculture, they should do with calculation so they can reap big out of a small plot of land.

Why Ngoma

Museveni on Wednesday officially launched his wealth creation sensitization drive in Buganda region after traversing other areas in the country.

Speaking at Ngoma sub county headquarters, Museveni explained that he had started with Ngoma in Buganda region for strategic reasons.

“I am here for three reasons. I must thank you for supporting me in the bush war. We launched the war from here and you gave me over 20,000 cows that assisted us for meals,”Museveni said during the rally.

He explained that the cows gave the rebels a big push in their fight against Milton Obote’s government until it collapsed.

The President noted that when his NRM government captured power and elective politics started, people from the area have always voted for him overwhelmingly.

“You supported me in the big struggle ( bush war) and the small one of that involves a piece of paper. I thank you for this.”

Museveni said that locals from Ngoma had also followed his wealth creation drive and have been able to get out of poverty.

He noted that that Ngoma area and neighbouring areas produce over one million litres of maize per day, over 20,000 tons of maize per year and 75,000kilograms of maize because they followed the wealth creation gospel that he has always been preaching.

“These people are rich because they listened to the gospel of wealth creation and not working for only their stomachs but also for money,”Museveni noted.

Museveni said he has always kept quiet and laughed when he sees politicians asking for things like tarmacked roads and electricity for their areas but forgetting to talk about wealth creation.

“Wealth is key to everything but not other things like good roads or electricity that people keep on asking for. People from Kyankwanzi and Ngoma are in a desert but well off than those near tarmacked roads.”

He said the creation of an industrial park at Kaweweeta will help put in place industries that will add value onto the products by locals in the greater Luweero area and their wealth increases.

Delegation

A number of Ministers attended the rally at Ngoma and these included Esther Mbayo(Presidency), Florence Nakiwala(Youths), Wilson Muruli Mukasa(Public Serivce),Persis Namuganza(Land),Haruna Kasolo(microfinance) and Abdul Nadduli(Without Portfolio).

Area Members of Parliament from Buganda region were also presented and these included Syda Bumba(Nakaseke South)James Kakooza(Kabula County), Joseph Makumbi, Mityana South, Noah Mutebi(Nakasongola County), Simeon Nsubuga(Kassanda South) and Judith Nabakooba(Mityana district).

Others were Lilian Nakate(Luweero district), Sarah Najjuma(Nakaseke district) and Ssemakula Lutamaguzi( Nakaseke county south) and Anita Among(Bukedea).

Speaking at the rally, Syda Bbumba said as NRM MPs from Buganda region, they had decided to attend every rally addressed by Museveni to rally support for him.

“We decided to escort you wherever you will be in Buganda to make a political statement that our support didn’t only end during the constitutional amendment,”Bbumba told Museveni.

Drama

There was drama when the Buganda region legislators mostly from the ruling NRM party were asked to shake hands with the President and also enjoy a photo moment with him.

Lutamaguzi Ssemakula(DP) refused to join the other legislators and remained seated as efforts to persuade him by his fellow MPs were futile.

It however took the intervention of Lwengo Woman MP,Cissy Namuju to convince Lutamaguzi to shkae hands and also take photos with the President.