President Museveni has told the people of Kitagwenda that while demanding development is good, creating wealth at the household level is far more important.
“Many people confuse development and wealth. Development is for all, but wealth is personal. In Banyankole, when one is blessing another, they say kazaare, katungye ente no tookye; they don’t say katungye tarmac,” he said. Museveni added that although development is important, wealth at individual and family level should never be taken for granted.
He was addressing a rally at Kayombo Primary School Playgrounds in Kitagwenda on Saturday.
Museveni explained that this has been his message since the 1960s, beginning with the cattle corridor in Ankole, and that those who embraced it are now reaping benefits.
He gave the example of George Matongo, a farmer in the cattle corridor who has created wealth despite living 70 miles from the nearest tarmac road.
Museveni also cited a woman in Rubirizi, Tumusiime, who owned nothing until she received Shs1 million under the Parish Development Model (PDM) and used it to create wealth—despite living near tarmac since 1963.
“In Rubirizi here, there is one Tumusiime who until PDM came, owned nothing. There has been tarmac in Rubirizi since 1963 but at 64 years of age, despite living near tarmac, Tumusiime owned nothing until NRM gave her shs1 million under PDM that she has used to create wealth,” he said.
“Tarmacked roads, electricity, schools, health facilities are okay but these are for government but poverty or wealth are for you as an individual. The money for PDM and Emyooga should be used to create wealth for yourselves. The aim behind these funds is to ensure you get out of poverty.”
Jobs
Museveni told the gathering that while government can provide jobs, these are not enough for the population, noting that civil service jobs are only 480,000, compared to almost 50 million people in the country.
He emphasised that jobs are the private sector through wealth creation, industries and services like hotels, ICT.
“Yes, government has jobs but are few, only 480,000 Jobs are in the private sector and through wealth creation, you can be able ot create jobs .One Basangwa from Busoga who is rearing over 20,000 birds and is employing over 300 people .He sells 2000 trays .His wealth has given birth to jobs for all Ugandans. Factories are another source of jobs .There are 74 factories in Mbale industrial park but have created over 102000 jobs.”
Museveni hailed Kitagwenda farmers for engaging into the money economy, something that he has emphasized since the 1960s.
“I thank the farmers in Kitagwenda. I have been informed that 60% of the homes are already engaged in the money economy, this is good news, it is something that we have been talking about since the 1960s, wealth creation at the household level is key for you as an individual,” he said.
Museveni praised Kitagwenda farmers for joining the money economy, saying that 60% of households are already earning income through commercial activities.
He said wealth creation at household level has been his message since the 1960s and remains vital today.
The President also pledged that government will work on the Ibanda–Kagongo–Kabujogera–Kamwenge road, noting that a loan has already been secured for the project.
The Speaker of Parliament and NRM Second National Vice Chairperson, Anita Annet Among, hailed the residents of Kitagwenda for their loyalty to the ruling party and for warmly receiving the President.
She described Kitagwenda as a historically hard-to-reach area that suffered service delivery challenges until the President granted it district status, which strengthened its foundation for development.
She praised the President's support to farmers, pointing out that Kitagwenda, being a predominantly coffee-growing district, depends on quality seedlings and continuous government support to increase productivity.
Among also commended the government for investing in water infrastructure, highlighting the Kanara Gravity Water System valued at Shs375 million, which now serves over 1,600 farmers and has significantly improved access to clean water for domestic and agricultural use.
On health, she backed the district's request for upgrading Ntara Health Centre IV to a general hospital, saying this will improve access to specialised medical services and reduce referrals outside the district.
Among reaffirmed that the Ibanda–Kagongo–Kabujogera–Kamwenge road has already been approved for construction and that works will commence soon.
She also reaffirmed President Museveni’s commitment to youth empowerment and urged unity within the NRM to ensure peace and accelerate development.
The NRM Chairperson for Kitagwenda District, Mr. Nathan Masana, praised President Museveni for maintaining peace and implementing government programmes that are transforming livelihoods, especially for youth, women and the elderly.
He noted that Kitagwenda, which became a district in 2018 and started operations in 2019, has made significant progress due to stability and targeted interventions.
He highlighted the impact of the Emyooga programme and the Parish Development Model (PDM), explaining that these initiatives are steadily integrating households into the money economy.
Masana reported that Kitagwenda District comprises 13 sub-counties and town councils, 55 parishes and 356 villages, with a population of 184,947 according to the 2024 National Population Census.
He revealed that the district’s 55 parishes have received a total of Shs16.89 billion under PDM, with 99.91% already disbursed to 16,875 beneficiary households. He further noted that Kitagwenda has 18 Emyooga SACCOs with 12,543 members who have so far received Shs960 million in government support.
In education, he said the district has 68 government and 88 private primary schools, as well as seven government and 13 private secondary schools. Six government secondary schools offer USE and UPPET programs with a combined enrollment of 32,703 learners.
However, he pointed out that 23 parishes still lack a government primary school, while seven of the 13 sub-counties do not have a government secondary school.
Masana said health service delivery remains a key challenge, since only one sub-county has a Health Centre IV and four have Health Centre IIIs, leaving eight without such facilities.
He appealed for the upgrade of Ntara HCIV to a general hospital, the elevation of several HC IIs to HC IIIs, and the construction of new HC IIIs in Ntara Town Council, Kicheche, Ruhunga and Mahyoro sub-counties.
On water and sanitation, Masana reported that while 62% of villages have access to safe water, 37.9% remain unserved. He highlighted ongoing rehabilitation and expansion of gravity flow schemes, piped water systems serving thousands of residents, solar-powered water projects, drilled boreholes and new public latrines.
He added that government plans to close the remaining water access gaps within two years through solar-powered mini water schemes and rehabilitation of existing sources.
In agriculture, he discussed the success of solar-powered irrigation systems in Ntutu and Kyendangara sub-counties, which are boosting coffee production and generating substantial annual income for farmers.
On infrastructure, he welcomed the district’s connection to the national electricity grid, reporting that eight sub-counties are already connected, with the remainder expected to receive power in the next government term.
He reiterated his appeal for construction of the Ibanda–Kagongo–Kabujogera–Kamwenge road, describing it as vital for trade, service delivery and regional integration.