Museveni to Karimojong; Build better houses, Manyattas are not for living but surviving

President Museveni has dissuaded Karimojong from taking pride in their traditional grass thatched structures dubbed manyatta houses, but rather work harder to build better structures as shelter.

Museveni was addressing a group of leaders from Karamoja sub-region at Boma Grounds in Naitwakai, Moroto Municipality, Moroto District on Tuesday.

Museveni who is currently on his wealth creation drive in the subregion urged leaders to stop politicking on the issue of poverty and rather offer selfless help to the people.

He equated the mission of fighting poverty and underdevelopment to a divine calling by God, saying that he is engaged in the fight for Godly, rather than earthly rewards.

He cautioned the leaders to do the same, but start ‘start with your family, don’t just talk talk.’

Museveni also took a swipe and the Karimojong, saying that their life style needed an entire overhaul, starting with change in their farming systems to change in residential structures.

‘We must get our selves from these manyattas (grass thatched houses). Having manyatas then it rains and you start looking for how to sleep without being rained on is not living, it is surviving. So we must build better houses, and this is only possible when we abandon our subsistence methods of farming. Stop nomadism, stop farming for the stomach,’ he said.

“The problem of water in Karamoja region will be solved completely. Part of the problem is starting too many things. Let us build at least 20 big dams to deal with the water problem here. The minister tells me that one dam would cost about Shs6b.’

Museveni said that once water is in place, it would be easier for the Karimojong to change their farming methods and commercialise. He promised to start a model farm in Karamoja to set the example.