The government is set to establish a dedicated fund for fishermen aimed at enhancing their livelihoods.
This announcement was made by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni today during his visit to Mr. Titus Tumusiime’s farm located in Sironko village, Nyamukutu parish, Butiaba Sub-county, Buliisa County, Buliisa district. Mr. Tumusiime is among the beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model (PDM) program in the area.
While assessing the progress of the PDM in the Bunyoro sub-region, President Museveni highlighted that the current funds under the initiative are insufficient to meet the specific needs of fishermen. He emphasized the high cost of essential fishing equipment such as boats and nets, which the existing PDM allocations cannot adequately cover, prompting the government’s decision to introduce an additional financial support scheme tailored for them.
“The fishermen require expensive equipment like boats and nets. The PDM funds alone can’t cover these costs, so we will establish a separate fund specifically for them,” the President said.
He further announced plans to convene a meeting with leaders from the fishing community in May this year to delve deeper into their concerns and chart a way forward.
During the visit, President Museveni also commended Mr. Tumusiime for his exemplary farming efforts. As a gesture of support, he contributed Shs10 million to assist him in purchasing a tuk-tuk for transporting pig feed, and Shs25 million to acquire a grinder.
Additionally, President Museveni addressed concerns regarding the Kingship of Bugungu, known as Butebengwa. He clarified that he has no objections to the Butebengwa Kingship and pledged to arrange a meeting between the Butebengwa leadership and the Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom to foster harmony.
This followed a briefing from Hon. Allan Atugonza of Buliisa County, who informed the President about the formalities surrounding the establishment of the Butebengwa Kingdom. He explained that all necessary procedures and approvals have been completed, with the proposal awaiting gazettement by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
Regarding disputes over Lake Albert, President Museveni urged local leaders to play an active role in addressing the issues and committed to organizing a stakeholders’ meeting in May this year to further discuss the matter.
Hon. Atugonza also expressed gratitude to the President for implementing poverty reduction programs like the PDM, which he said have significantly improved the livelihoods of Ugandans.
Mr. Tumusiime, in his remarks, thanked the President for introducing the PDM, stating that it has been crucial in boosting his household income. He detailed how he received Shs997,000 in PDM funds after bank charges on November 15th, 2023. He used the money to purchase six pigs at Shs120,000 each, spent Shs120,000 on feeds, Shs70,000 on constructing a pig fence, Shs40,000 on medication, and Shs40,000 on transportation.
Later, two of his female pigs produced 26 piglets, while the other three yielded 22 piglets, totaling 48. He sold the first batch of 26 piglets at Shs100,000 each, earning Shs2.6 million, and sold the remaining 22 piglets at Shs80,000 each, generating Shs1.7 million. In total, he earned Shs4.3 million.
The rest, as he put it, is history.
The event was attended by various Ministers, Members of Parliament, and other leaders.
