President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged the people of Busoga to adopt wealth-creation programmes and productive forms of agriculture to overcome household poverty. He made the call while officiating at the thanksgiving ceremony of Minister for the Presidency and Budiope West Member of Parliament, Hon. Babirye Milly Babalanda, in Buyende District. Museveni emphasized the need for residents to maximize income from limited land through a combination of productive enterprises.
Land fragmentation remains a major challenge affecting household incomes in Busoga, with successive generations inheriting increasingly smaller portions of land. This makes it difficult for families to achieve economic security through conventional farming. Museveni cited the Four-Acre Model, promoted by the NRM Government since 1996, as a solution to help households maximize income from limited land.
Museveni encouraged farmers to select enterprises according to the size of land available, with those having small plots focusing on intensive agriculture and those with larger landholdings undertaking extensive production. He cited dairy farming, poultry, and fish farming as examples of enterprises that can generate substantial incomes from relatively small areas of land.
The President provided examples of successful farmers, including George Matongo from Ngoma-Nakaseke District, who produces 900 litres of milk daily and earns over Shs21 million per month. He also mentioned Johnson Basangwa from Kamuli, who operates a poultry enterprise on a small piece of land and earns about Shs20 million per day.
Museveni urged residents to make proper use of Parish Development Model (PDM) funds, investing in enterprises capable of generating sustainable household incomes. He also encouraged them to explore economic opportunities associated with wetlands and other natural resources within the law, including fish farming at the edges of wetlands.
The President cautioned residents against relying excessively on sugarcane, rice, and tobacco growing on small pieces of land, where returns may not be sufficient to transform household incomes. He reminded Ugandans that the Government has identified four broad sectors for wealth creation and economic transformation: commercial agriculture, services, ICT, and manufacturing.
At the same event, Museveni elevated Ms. Sarah Kasadha from Deputy Resident District Commissioner (DRDC) to full RDC. Other officials, including the Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister without Portfolio, Rt. Hon. Rukia Isanga Nakadama, and Minister Babalanda, commended the President for his efforts in promoting wealth creation and development in the region.
Key points
- President Museveni urges Busoga residents to adopt high-income enterprises to overcome poverty.
- The Four-Acre Model is a solution to help households maximize income from limited land.
- Museveni cautions against relying excessively on low-return crops on small landholdings.
