President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged residents of Sheema District to prioritise household income generation as a foundation for wealth creation and socioeconomic transformation.
The President made the call while presiding over the thanksgiving ceremony of the Minister of Internal Affairs and Sheema County South Member of Parliament, Hon Prof Ephraim Kamuntu which held at Bugongi Town Council Playground in Sheema District.
President Museveni highlighted 7 viable economic enterprises that residents of Sheema District and the wider Ankole Sub-region can choose from and concentrate on to improve their household incomes and these include coffee growing, fruit farming, dairy farming, food crop production, poultry keeping, piggery and fish farming.
He emphasised that households should identify suitable enterprises based on their available resources, local conditions and market opportunities, rather than engaging in activities without a clear income-generating focus.
The President further noted that prioritising household incomes is a practical pathway to socioeconomic transformation, particularly when citizens actively participate in government development initiatives and cited beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model and other government interventions as examples of households that have undertaken income-generating activities and registered improvements in their livelihoods.
The President encouraged residents to embrace productive economic activities, make effective use of available government programmes and focus on building sustainable sources of income to improve their welfare and guided beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model on the effective utilisation of government funds to improve household incomes, citing accounts of beneficiaries in Rubirizi, Butambala and other areas who report progress in their wealth creation journeys after enrolling in the programme.
The President expressed optimism that the Parish Development Model overall objectives will be achieved as the remaining households outside the money economy embrace income-generating activities, with emphasis on productive investment, proper planning and sustainable enterprise development.
He guided residents of Sheema District on the effective implementation of the four-acre model, emphasising integrated farming and the strategic utilisation of available land to maximise agricultural productivity and household incomes.
President Museveni encouraged farmers to adopt a coordinated approach to enterprise selection and management, combining suitable agricultural activities to improve yields, diversify income sources and strengthen household economic stability.
He contributed Ugx 300 million towards the completion of St Peter’s Cathedral Bweranyangi, supporting efforts to complete the church project in Bushenyi District.
He outlined key road infrastructure projects earmarked for construction and completion to improve connectivity, ease transportation and stimulate economic growth in the Ankole sub-region which include the 92-kilometre Buzibwera – Kabwohe Road and the 99-kilometre Kabwohe – Mitooma Road, alongside a commitment to ensure the timely completion of the Ishaka – Bushenyi Road.
He also revealed government commitment to upgrading Kitagata Hospital as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Uganda’s healthcare infrastructure and improve access to quality medical services.
The proposed elevation of Kitagata Hospital complements the ongoing development of Kapchorwa and Bundibugyo Regional Referral Hospitals, as government maintains investment in expanding healthcare capacity and improving service delivery.
President Museveni pledged to provide two tractors to Sheema District to support agricultural mechanisation, improve farming efficiency and enhance agricultural productivity and tasked district leaders and the intended beneficiaries with ensuring the proper utilisation and maintenance of the tractors so they serve their intended purpose of supporting farmers to expand production, reduce the burden of manual labour and increase household incomes.
The President urged farmers in Sheema District to adopt improved farming practices including the effective utilisation of fertilizers as distributed by government, adopt irrigation through conservation of wetlands among others.
While speaking at the same event, The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa confirmed industrialisation strides fostered by President Museveni with 5 Square miles of land in Ruhengyere, vast road construction projects including Buzibwera road stretch, refugee settlement plans among other interventions fast tracked.
In his own remarks, Prof Kamuntu recounted on his 65 years journey of friendship with President Museveni since school time and through his leadership career and assured the country for strengthened capacity within Uganda’s security institutions through the adoption of modern technology, artificial intelligence and forensic services to improve crime prevention, detection and investigation.
Minister Kamuntu emphasised the need to equip security agencies with advanced tools, including DNA testing, CCTV surveillance and canine units, to enhance their operational effectiveness and strengthen internal security and expressed confidence that the strategic application of modern technologies could help country’s move towards becoming a crime-free country, urging security personnel to sustain their commitment and hard work in protecting citizens and maintaining law and order.
The thanks giving ceremony was presided over by the Bishop of West Ankole Diocese Rt Rev Johnson Twinomujuni who urged leaders to ensure impactful and accountable service to their communities and the country at large.
