President Museveni has officiated at the national celebrations to mark World Population Day at Busaana County Grounds in Kayunga District.
Held under the theme “Promoting Population Health and Wellbeing Through the Parish Development Model (PDM),” the event brought together local leaders, diplomats, civil society actors, and development partners to champion grassroots transformation and inclusive growth.
Delivering the keynote address, President Museveni challenged prevailing global concerns about population pressure, stating that Africa’s issue is not overpopulation but economic underutilization and disconnection from the money economy.
“Africa has been underpopulated for most of this millennium. Even today, the continent’s 1.5 billion people are spread over land 12 times larger than India,” Museveni said.
Citing the Democratic Republic of Congo’s vast landmass and relatively small population of 80 million, the President argued that Africa’s untapped land and human resource potential present opportunities rather than threats.
He emphasized that the root of poverty lies not in population growth, but in economic disconnection.
“Nobody has stopped them from engaging in the money economy, but they don’t see the need,” Museveni said, describing generations of Ugandans engaged solely in subsistence farming as “working only for the stomach.”
He made a distinction between national infrastructure development—such as roads, water and electricity—and individual household wealth creation, warning that without economic activity at family level, infrastructure alone cannot transform livelihoods.
The president used the platform to reaffirm government commitment to the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga programs, which are designed to transition communities from subsistence to commercial production.
He assured transparency in the implementation of PDM, reiterating that every beneficiary must receive the full shs1 million allocation.
“Each year, 100 homesteads in every parish will benefit. In five years, 500 homes will have received support. No one should get less than one million shillings,” he said, adding that funding could be increased to shs200 million annually.
The President also screened testimonies of successful PDM beneficiaries to inspire nationwide uptake and belief in the model.
However, he warned against environmentally harmful practices, particularly the misuse of wetlands for rice farming, advising that wetlands be preserved and instead used for irrigation.
Museveni commended the people of Kayunga for donating land to facilitate the construction of the Kayunga–Bbaale–Galiraya road, a move he said saved the government shs76 billion and demonstrated rare patriotism.
“You have chosen wisely. The value of your land will increase, just like it did in Mukono, where an acre once worth shs5 million now sells for shs60 million,” he said. “But if you’re next to a tarmac road and still have no income at home, that’s nothing. Roads help everyone, but you must also create wealth.”
First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni, also addressed the gathering, thanking Ugandans for their continued support of the National Resistance Movement (NRM). She called on citizens to embrace self-reliance, discipline, and education as the keys to breaking the cycle of poverty.
“Africans were not born to be poor. We are all created by the same God. Let’s work hard to ensure that every family is healthy, educated, and productive,” she said, encouraging continued support for NRM leadership to sustain national progress.
Amos Lugoloobi, the Minister of State for Planning and MP for Ntenjeru North raised concerns over theft of farm produce, livestock, and electric wires, calling for further government support to extend electricity, rehabilitate feeder roads, and repair boreholes.
On behalf of Uganda’s development partners, Ambassador Frederieke Quispel of the Netherlands praised Uganda’s strides in public health.
She noted that EU member states have committed over €900 million from 2022–2027 to support Uganda’s health, education, water, and social protection programs.
“Uganda’s life expectancy has improved from 43 years in 1990 to 68 years in 2022. Maternal mortality has dropped by half since 2016. Today, 90% of Ugandans live within five kilometers of a health facility,” Ambassador Quispel said.
The United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr. Zulu Leonard, acknowledged Uganda’s youthful population as a valuable resource if well-supported. He urged investment in education, skilling, decent jobs, healthcare, and gender equity.
“The Parish Development Model aligns with the global population agenda. Uganda’s poverty has reduced from 21% to 16%. These gains enable families to invest in their future,” he said.
Prof. Pamela Mbabazi, Executive Chairperson of the National Planning Authority, stressed the importance of people-centered development.
“Strong communities make a strong nation,” she said, citing efforts to equip health centers and reduce maternal mortality.
She warned, however, of rising rates of teenage pregnancy and child marriage—24% of girls aged 15–19 are either pregnant or already mothers—and called for urgent national action. She said the upcoming Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) will prioritize youth, women, and children to ensure long-term transformation.
“When our people are healthy, educated, and productive, Uganda can rise and stand tall in the world. The Parish Development Model is the bridge to that future,” she said.
The Kayunga ceremony was attended by several district and national leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society organizations, and ordinary citizens, united in the call for inclusive development rooted in empowered communities.