Gomba: Since taking office in 1986, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has promised the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Parliamentary Caucus that his administration has been attempting to improve the socioeconomic situation of Ugandans.

Uganda is a wealthy country with abundant natural resources. The issue is that the people there do not know how to use these riches to live a good, modern life, which is why we have been telling them that they must take two steps. The first is universal free education, and the second is universal prosperity and economic growth,” he stated.

The President said this today at his Kisozi farm in Gomba District at a meeting of the NRM Parliamentary Caucus, which was chaired by Hon. Denis Hamson Obua, the Government Chief Whip. Some local wealth producers also attended the meeting.

President Museveni clarified that Ugandans must participate in the money economy through the four economic sectors—commercial agriculture, manufacturing and industries, services, and ICT—in order to accomplish the intended socioeconomic transition.

“Now if you go into one of those, you definitely join the money economy because part of the problem here in Uganda was that most people were working for food and not in the money economy,” he said.

We have been using “ekibaro” (to gauge how much you would receive) to teach Ugandans about commercial agriculture. In this instance, we strongly advise keeping intensive agriculture—where you pursue high-value businesses—separate from extensive agriculture, which yields low profits per acre but yields good profits due to its large size.

Additionally, President Museveni disclosed that he has effectively preached the wealth creation gospel throughout the nation, including the cattle corridor, through the government.

“We’ve done well in the cattle corridor; people have started dairy farming, but there are also a lot of places that are mostly crop areas, and here is where we’ve been battling to get this concept of intensive agriculture where people with small land can get out of poverty,” he noted.

“There were obviously a lot of contradicting messages when I first arrived here, but eventually people paid attention to what I had to say.”

The President told the lawmakers, “We are going to have a showdown; they are liars and criminals playing with fire,” in reference to the politics, disinformation, and misunderstanding of government programs (rationalization, notably the Uganda Coffee Development Authority). The counterattack will not sit well with them.

The Presidential poverty alleviation program coordinator in Gomba and Sembabule Districts, Ms. Sarah Nalwanga, told the MPs that the President began the project in 2011 and advocated for wealth development through commercial agriculture.

Because they didn’t know how to use their land, the people here had nothing to eat. We have been providing crop inputs such as goats, chickens, dairy cows, coffee seedlings, and banana tissues since 2011. “I express my gratitude to our farmers for heeding His Excellency’s guidance on generating wealth,” she stated.

Ms. Nalwanga added that more than 1,800 households have benefited thus far from the 9 villages of Gomba and Sembabule, with 769 engaging in coffee cultivation, 556 dairy farming, 336 goat rearing, and other businesses.

She also gave the president the assurance that food security has been restored for the people of Gomba and Sembabule.

Kirasi coffee grower Mr. Mulika Noah Peterson expressed gratitude to President Museveni for helping them change their life through his poverty alleviation project.

“We were living a very miserable life before we started growing coffee, but now that you have helped us, we are doing well and moving forward,” Mr. Mulika stated.

“We had nothing and were in terrible financial shape in Kirasi, but thanks to your efforts, we are now making progress. We are grateful for the change, Your Excellency. In 2013, I planted one acre of coffee. Today, I have four acres of premium coffee, and I plan to add three more. I may now earn Shs50 million selling coffee in a year,” he added.

Another Lutunku A resident, Ms. Rosette Kadoozi, expressed gratitude to the president for changing their life.

“The exotic cows you provided us with produce a lot of milk, which we consume at home and also sell. We thank you, Your Excellency and Maama Janet, for making us rich,” she said.

I sell milk and make Shs900,000 a month. I’m grateful, Mzee.

Additionally, Kisozi A’s Chairperson LC1 Mr. Lule John praised President Museveni for improving their lives via the Presidential Poverty Alleviation Project.

“Yes, we may not have reached our desired destination yet, but at least we are making progress. Even though we had the land, Your Excellency, you discovered us when we were food needy. Your Excellency, you provided us with hoes, maize, coffee seedlings, and cassava cuttings. Although we got off to a slow start, we currently have ample food. We don’t have a market for the cassava we have in excess,” he said.

“Your Excellency, we have changed since you began to stand by us; we are singing a new song now.”

Additionally, Mr. Lule told the President that coffee had significantly improved the lives of those in his region.

“Your Excellency, I planted my first coffee seedling thanks to you. I currently have over ten acres of coffee, but I only harvest nine of them. I’m not alone, Your Excellency; your effort has helped a lot of individuals, and their stories have completely changed,” he remarked.

“I’ve managed to construct a lovely house and a brand-new vehicle for myself. Every time I see you, I tell you that I wouldn’t have purchased this car if it weren’t for you.

Additionally, Mr. Lule chastised those criticizing the President for his choice to rationalize Uganda Coffee Development Authority, saying they are doing it out of ignorance.

UCDA and other agencies have not been providing us with services. Coffee producers have an issue if you don’t wish them well. I was a kid in school when you arrived here in the 1990s. In Kisozi A, there were just two individuals who had coffee farms. My father and grandfather had a half-acre and a quarter-acre, respectively. However, as Kisozi A residents, we currently own 295 acres of coffee.

He suggested that leaders, including the NRM MPs, educate the public about the coffee bill’s goal of growing the coffee industry.

The lawmakers and government representatives had already taken a field trip to a number of the prosperous people’s farms.

Vice President H.E. Jessica Alupo led the field trip, which was also attended by a delegation led by EALA Speaker Rt. Hon. Joseph Ntakirutimana, members of the NRM top organ, and other ministers.

According to Rt. Hon. Ntakirutimana, they were there as part of an oversight mission with the goal of learning from local farmers’ experiences and the President’s exemplary farming methods.

Mr. Sonko Anthony, a coffee farmer from Kifamba, was one among those who told their story. He stated that his 15-acre plantation yielded Shs 86 million last season, with 14,400 kg of coffee produced.

He said, “I can pay my five kids’ school fees.” He also mentioned that the President gave him banana suckers, which allowed him to grow matooke alongside coffee.