KIGEZI- President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who is on the tour of Kigezi Sub Region to assess the implementation of the Parish Development Model program has condemned some leaders who are bent on creating politics of identity by playing sectarian religious sentiments in their communities.
President Museveni made the warning yesterday while speaking at a meeting of Political leaders from Kigezi Sub Region at Rukungiri Municipality Playgrounds in Rukungiri District.
The Meeting was attended by Political leaders from the 5 districts of Kigezi Sub-region that include Kisoro, Rubanda, Kabale, Rukiga, Kanungu and Rukungiri where he categorically made it clear that politics of identity have no room in Uganda.
The President who was accompanied by his Wife Maama Janet Kataha Museveni advised the leaders to preach to their communities on how to create Wealth using their small pieces of land as guided by the Parish Development Model guidelines because experience has shown that those who tried it have succeeded and their livelihoods and incomes have changed.
“I have been reliably informed that there are some people playing politics based on religion, that’s nonsense and I implore whoever is involved must stop or else will be delt with” a visibly irritated Museveni said.
Ealier Kigezi Region leaders presented a memorandum to the President which was read out by the Minister of Security Maj Gen Jim Katugugu Muhwezi who is also the Member of Parliament for Rujumbura in Rukungiri District that outlined the achievements realized by the people in the region and challenges that need government interventions which the President said that if the people are sensititised on how to create Wealth they will achieve the rest.
The meeting was attended by the Vice President Major Jessica Alupo Epel who is the National Chairperson of the Presidential Tours to assess the implementation Parish Development Model, cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament hailing from Kigezi District Council and Sub County Leaders and religious leaders.
The President assured the people of Kigezi Sub-region that Parish Development Model has already showed good results and it has awakened the people who have been asleep and therefore the government will ensure that there are funds to maintain it.
He thanked the people who welcomed the Parish Development Model program and are implementing it in their homes to uplift their household incomes and added that all these developments need infrastructural developments like water sources close to the people’s homes because all the structured enterprises being taken up like goat, chicken, pig, Zero grazing and fishing need water on top of the agriculture which needs irrigation.
He also assured the members that his duty is to ensure that there is peace in the country that will enhance the construction of roads, extension of gravity water to hilly areas, education and health.
When President Museveni arrived at Nyamirama, he was received by the Kinkizi West Member of Parliament Hon James Ruggi Kaberuka Hon Kaberuka and thanked him for initiating PDM program and Emyooga that has transformed the people in the area. 10 PDM people who have so far excelled in utilising the Ugx 1 million were each gifted Ugx 1 million by the President.
President Museveni asked the people near wetlands to voluntarily vacate them without necessarily waiting for compensation but can establish ecosystem like fish farming which have higher returns than rowing crops like rice.
During the function, the President received about 1000 people who crossed from opposition to join the winning the ruling National Resistance Movement.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has praised Kanungu District Nyekundire Group for their unwavering support towards the National Resistance Movement, despite facing challenges aimed at dividing the party.
While speaking at the meeting to launch tthe group at Kanungu District headquarters yesterday, President Museveni thanked the founders of Nyekundire Group for standing firm and supporting the NRM, even when some people he did not name attempted to split the party.
The Nyekundire Group comprises men, women, and youth from Kinkizi East and West in Kanungu District, who actively mobilize support for President Museveni and the NRM government.and the President acknowledged their steadfast loyalty and credited them for defending the party’s unity.
In order to support their efforts and activities, President Museveni pledged Ugx 500 million for their SACCO and also promised to provide a hatchery and a brooder to boost poultry farming within the group.
The President Museveni also assured that he is committed to improving road connectivity in the region by working on key roads, including Kanyantorongo and Bwindi to Kisoro District to boast trade and tourism.
During the event the Minister for ICT and National Guidance Hon Dr Chris Baryomunsi who is also the Kinkizi East Member of Parliament and NRM Vice Chairman for Western Uganda hailed President Museveni for guiding the country to attain social economic transformation whose inclusion of skilling the Youth has enabled them to be job creators than job seekers. Minister Baryomunsi told the President that he has already established a youth skilling center giving carreer development in tailoring and bakery in Kanungu District and requested the President for further funding to accommodate more youth beneficiaries.
Earlier in the day President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni visited a Parish Development Model beneficiary, Kenneth Ayesiga in Nyamirama Town Council who has utilised the Ugx 1 million he received from the government to expand his restaurant business and also started a piggery and Zero grazing projects thereby creating jobs for the community and gifted him with Ugx 10 million.
