President Yoweri Museveni has urged NRM leaders to promote grassroots accountability in wealth creation projects.
On December 11, 2024, the President met with Sebei leaders and encouraged them to thoroughly monitor the allocation and impact of resources supplied to parishes, emphasizing the transformative potential of the Parish Development Model (PDM).
“NRM leaders should focus on eradicating widespread poverty. Do not be superficial and stay up there. Go for the residences. We send sh100 million each parish each year—check the documents, follow up, and ensure it has an impact,” the President said.
“I want NRM leaders to follow up on the resources we deliver and make sure they have an impact. It is not enough to simply distribute money; you must also determine how many families are joining the money economy and which are still trailing. Accountability is critical to the success of these projects.
He also urged Members of Parliament and local authorities to present detailed status reports on wealth development activities in each parish.
“You live nearby and are aware of which households are struggling. “Track these programs, evaluate their impact, and deliver results,” the President urged.
President Museveni emphasized that wealth creation is fundamental to his administration’s objective.
“Our objective is to transition all Ugandan households from subsistence farming to the money economy. “This necessitates focusing on individual households rather than broader, superficial issues,” he explained.
The President also warned authorities not to put elite interests such as wages and administrative boundaries ahead of regular residents’ needs.
“If you simply concentrate on public pay and city issues, you are ignoring the majority. “Start with the masses and address their problems directly,” he stated.
President Museveni demonstrated the transformational power of PDM by telling the tale of Elder Koko Rafanisa Kissa, an 84-year-old widow from Aloman Parish, Kaptum sub-county, Kween District.
Koko Kissa was a young woman in 1977. That year, her young husband was slaughtered by Karimojong raiders, who also stole all of their cattle. At the time, they had 12 cows and some goats. She stayed with six children, five boys and one girl, and one acre of land. They survived by working for other people. That is how they have been living until the government brought the elderly allowance. That’s how she got some support,” President Museveni narrated.
“She claims that if that help hadn’t arrived, she would have died by now.” PDM recently came and gave her one million shillings. She used this money to buy a cow, which now had a calf. So she’s happy now, not only because of the cow, but also because the Karamojong are no longer bothering them. Her family now has 40 children.
President Museveni also explained the Parish Development Model, which aims to move Ugandan families into the money economy.
“We send Sh100 million each year, which should support 100 persons in a Parish. In four to five years, we will have handled 500 families. The objective is that after 24 months, those who received the funds first will start paying back,” he said.
“So, by the third year, the repayments will allow others to gain. By the conclusion of five years, the groups should have repaid, leaving us with sh300 million in circulation. “This is how we intend to increase wealth creation in each Parish.”
He stressed the four-acre concept, describing it as a customized strategy for households with tiny landholdings.
“After rigorous research in Uganda, we developed the four-acre plan for families with four acres or fewer. The model recommends seven actions. One acre should be set out for coffee, and another for fruit. High-value crops such as apples and grapes may thrive in cold climates like Kapchorwa, he noted.
“The third acre should be reserved for grazing, and the fourth for food crops for your household. For the backyard, we recommend poultry for eggs, which takes up little room, and piggery. “Those who live near wetlands should farm fish at the swamp’s edges rather than in the center,” he advised.
President Museveni reflected on Uganda’s economic history, noting that at independence, just 9% of Ugandans were involved in the money industry.
“When Uganda gained independence in 1962, it was already growing coffee and was ranked among the top producers in the Commonwealth. However, only 9% of Ugandans participated in the money economy. The rest produced simply for their stomachs. “How can a country develop when only 9% of its population works in the economy?” he inquired.
“This is where the NRM began. As a student movement, we questioned why so few Ugandans worked in the money sector. By 2013, the figure had increased to 32%, although it remained unacceptably low. Through projects such as Operation Wealth Creation, we increased it to 61% by 2019. With PDM, we hope to raise this figure even higher.”
The President reminded leaders that the NRM has always prioritized the masses over elites.
“When we prioritize public salaries, we only serve a small portion of the population.” “The mass line is about elevating everyone, not just the elite,” he explained.
Kween MP William Chemonges, for his part, thanked the government for its transformative initiatives that have moved the Sebei region toward socioeconomic improvement.
Chemonges warmly greeted the government delegation and praised their dedication to promoting prosperity and inclusive development.
“On behalf of the people of Sebei, allow me to express our heartfelt appreciation for your wise and enabling leadership, which has steered this country to middle-income status,” Chemonges told the gathering.
The MP highlighted major government programs such as the Parish Development Model and Operation Wealth Creation noted.
