Serving soldiers have been urged to appreciate the significance of the military uniform and begin preparing for life after active service by investing in productive ventures, particularly agriculture.
The call was made by retired military officer Brig.(Rtd) John Byuma of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) during an inspection tour of coffee farmers in the Luweero Triangle who benefited from 5,000 coffee seedlings donated by President Yoweri Museveni.
Brig. Gen. Byuma, accompanied by retired military officer Lt. Fredrick Ssenoga, toured several farms in Luweero and Nakasongola districts to assess the progress of beneficiaries and ensure that the seedlings distributed under the presidential initiative were being utilized effectively.
The team inspected more than ten coffee plantations and found that while many beneficiaries had planted the seedlings, others had preserved and continued watering them while waiting for more favourable weather conditions due to the prolonged dry season.
Among the farmers visited were retired soldiers who have successfully transitioned into commercial agriculture and are now earning a stable income through farming.
Addressing serving soldiers during the visit, Brig. Gen. Byuma emphasized that the military uniform symbolizes duty, discipline, and national service.
"The uniform is a symbol of duty, discipline and commitment to serving the nation. Soldiers should understand its meaning and not wear it merely for prestige or personal enjoyment," he said.
He further advised soldiers and civil servants to plan for retirement while still in active service.
"Many people begin thinking about life after work when it is too late. It is important to invest and prepare early so that retirement becomes a period of productivity rather than hardship," Byuma noted.
The retired general showcased his own 20-acre farm comprising coffee, eucalyptus trees, and banana plantations, describing it as part of his long-term retirement strategy.
However, he expressed concern about the timing of some government agricultural interventions.
"One of the challenges with the coffee seedlings distributed by the President is that some were delivered during the dry season. Farmers need such inputs during the rainy season to improve survival rates," he explained.
Lt. Fredrick Ssenoga commended beneficiaries who had successfully planted and maintained their coffee gardens, saying the programme had generated significant interest among farmers.
"We are encouraged to see that many people have utilized the seedlings well. However, the demand for coffee seedlings remains high in many communities," Ssenoga said.
He appealed to the government to align future distributions with favourable weather conditions.
"When seedlings are distributed during the rainy season, farmers have a better chance of success. Many seedlings are lost when they are supplied during prolonged dry spells," he added.
During the tour, Paul Mukasa Mukama Mulungi, a resident of Busolosolo Village in Kakooge Sub-county, Nakasongola District, guided the officials through his coffee plantation established using the donated seedlings.
Mukasa said the project had given him renewed hope and an opportunity to improve his livelihood.
"Since members of my family were killed during the war, this is the first time I have directly benefited from a government programme," he said.
Despite the progress made, Mukasa highlighted water scarcity as a major challenge affecting agricultural production in the area.
"Water remains our biggest challenge. We appeal to the government to support us with irrigation and other water solutions so that we can sustain our farms," he said.
The inspection forms part of ongoing efforts by Operation Wealth Creation to monitor government-supported agricultural projects and encourage beneficiaries to effectively utilize distributed inputs to improve household incomes and boost national agricultural productivity.