Museveni concludes three -month countrywide wealth creation drive

President Museveni on Sunday afternoon concluded a three-month countrywide drive aimed at sensitizing the population to create wealth for themselves.

The wealth creation drive that started in Tooro sub-region in May concluded with a public rally at Kasuba sub-county headquarters in Bundibugyo district, Rwenzori sub-region.

Speaking to locals, Museveni emphasized that the three-month drive was aimed at awakening those who were still in deep sleep so they can kick poverty out of their homes through embracing of the money economy which he said suits modern-day lifestyles.

“The NRM struggled to usher peace in the country. Peace ignited infrastructure development but the remaining task is wealth creation mobilisation at the household level. A person with a reasonable piece of land is able to handle any agricultural practice. I am now struggling to see that a person with a 4-acre or less piece of land utilizes it to realize high productivity to accumulate wealth,” Museveni told locals in Bundibugyo.

He insisted that for long, many communities have lived in economic darkness despite having ways to get out of it at their disposal.

The President also lashed out at leaders for failure to mobilise their subjects to work towards poverty eradication.

He, however, applauded locals in Bundibugyo for working towards development through agriculture.

“You have greatly advanced in agricultural development; growing coffee, cocoa, palm oil trees to sustain economic development of your families,” he said.

Museveni told  Bundibugyo district communities that in addition to growing highly productive crops along the four-acre plan that includes coffee, fruits, dairy cows, poultry, piggery they should at the same time expand vanilla cultivation because the product has gained global market demand.

He also thanked them for the tremendous support for the NRM governance by their overwhelming vote in the 2016 general elections.

“I have come here to thank you for voting well. I commend you people of Bundibungyo for you are focused politically. Your mature and responsible voting has made the area peaceful contrary to the neighbouring DRC,” he added.

He encouraged Bundibugyo District communities that in addition to growing highly productivity crops along the four-acre plan that includes coffee, fruits, dairy cows, poultry, piggery they should at the same time expand vanilla cultivation because the product has gained global market demand.

Museveni noted that government has created an annual fund allocation of Shs400 billion for citizens to utilize to boost individual household income.

He explained that the money is embedded in the youth livelihood fund, women fund, operations wealth creation and microfinance fund.

“Other extra sources of funds the government has identified are under the skilling program, specialised enterprises fund and elected leaders’ fund,” he revealed.

Poverty

The Uganda National Household Survey 2016/17 that was carried out by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics indicated that that national poverty level increased from 19.7 percent in the financial year 2012/13 to 21.4 percent in 2016/2017.

The survey also indicated that poverty incidence is at 31% in rural areas compared to urban areas as 15%.

A report released in March 2019 by Twaweza indicated that 81% of households in Uganda say their incomes don’t meet their daily expenses whereas half of all Ugandan households have had a member who has been forced to drop out of school for financial reasons.

The report also indicated that two out of 10 (22%) households have a member who died due to lack of financial resources for medical expenses.

Speaking to locals at Ngoma sub-county headquarters in Nakaseke district, Museveni said all other issues like goods roads, electricity and other amenities are nothing if people are poor.

“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.”

The drive

Museveni also used the three- month wealth creation drive to meet various leaders in various parts of the country asking them to rally locals to fight poverty.

Other than holding rallies, the President has also held several radio talk shows in which he asked locals to engage in wealth creation.

The drive has also seen Museveni being endorsed to run as a sole candidate in the 2021 presidential polls.

Wherever he moved, Museveni was escorted by local Members of Parliament, especially those leaning to the ruling NRM party and other party members.

Several ministers have also been part of the wealth creation drive by the President throughout the country.