By Patriot Corps
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, addressing leaders of the Teso Subregion at Kumi Municipal Grounds during the second day of his wealth creation assessment tour, issued a directive barring Regional Police Commanders (RPCs) from granting police bonds to individuals accused of embezzling Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga funds. He emphasized the need to safeguard these programs, critical for transforming Uganda’s village economies.
The President revealed receiving intelligence reports about theft of PDM funds, with some culprits benefiting from leniency through police bonds. He warned RPCs against such practices, threatening personal consequences for defiance. Museveni stressed that refunding stolen funds is insufficient; culprits must also face imprisonment.
Highlighting the transformative potential of PDM, Museveni decried practices such as deducting bank charges from disbursed funds, directing the Ministry of Finance to cover these costs to ensure beneficiaries receive the full amount. He also addressed societal challenges, urging Ugandans to overcome outdated attitudes and embrace change for economic progress. Drawing on personal anecdotes, Museveni highlighted the capacity for transformation through exposure and effort.
The President called for environmental conservation, advocating for fish farming as a sustainable alternative to rice cultivation in wetlands. He cited successful examples, such as Limoto Wetland Restoration Center in Pallisa, where families significantly increased incomes by shifting to fish farming. This approach, he explained, restores wetlands, supports irrigation, and provides sustainable livelihoods.
Museveni reflected on Uganda’s journey to prosperity, tracing back to ideological debates in the 1960s that shaped his vision of shared prosperity. He rejected divisive politics of identity, emphasizing national unity and shared economic interests. He recounted how the National Resistance Movement (NRM) emerged to address failures of past governments, focusing on commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, and ICT as drivers of wealth creation.
Encouraging Ugandans to engage in commercial agriculture, he outlined high-value farming activities suited for small plots, such as coffee, fruits, poultry, and fish farming. Museveni praised the growth of manufacturing and services sectors, which now employ millions, and highlighted ICT as a burgeoning area for global income opportunities. He also cautioned against land fragmentation, advocating for intensive farming methods to maximize productivity on smaller plots.
In concluding, President Museveni reaffirmed his commitment to supporting PDM, with sh100 million allocated annually per parish, and announced plans to expand agricultural initiatives through breeding animals and multiplying foundation seeds in zonal centres. He expressed optimism for Uganda’s future, attributing progress to the NRM’s policies and the resilience of its people.