UG@59: UPC calls for restoration of cattle stocks

UPC party has remained proud of the different infrastructures put in place by the two-time-governments of Obote 1 and 2.

Kampala—6, October 2021: Uganda got herself ‘freedom’ (independence) from the British in 1962 after decades of the white men’s control.

On the 9, October 2021 at Kololo Ceremonial grounds in Kampala, the country will celebrate its 59^th independence anniversary.

Explorer Winston Churchill named Uganda the Pearl of Africa in 1908, following his journey to the country in 1907.

The 2021 fete will be celebrated under the theme, “Celebrating our 59^th Independence Day as we secure our future through national mindset change.”

While she is out of the power now after her [late] founding father, Dr Apollo Milton Obote became president at independence, Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party considers Independence Day as “their own”—yet.

“When our Independence heroes delivered independence victory on 9th October, 1962, it was a great hope for unity, development and prosperity to be ushered into the country. This independence goals have remained elusive and at certain times leading to the overthrow of sitting government (s) punctuated with intermittent civil wars or strife.These developments affect the progress of humanity and national economy rendering it very hard to recover,” Jimmy Akena, the UPC president, told a weekly press conference, Wednesday.

He adds that the government pledged to rehabilitate and reconstruct Luwero triangle, Teso sub region, Acholi sub region, Lango sub region and West Nile. The economies of our people rotated around cattle culture, which secured their past, present and future.

“Cattle defined their day-to-day life. Cattle are a cornerstone of wealth, cattle is an engine of agricultural revolution through ox-plough, and usage of cow-dung as organic fertilizer. At our 59^th Uhuru, UPC calls for a restoration of cattle stocks to enhance development and prosperity in the affected districts,” Akena, also the Lira City East Division MP, recalls.

UPC party has remained proud of the different infrastructures put in place by the two-time-governments of Obote 1 and 2.

Back to our Independence times, Akena adds that the country was modeled on 3 Cs: coffee, cotton, and copper, that laid a foundation for modernized Uganda, especially with the boom periods of the 1960s. But still, it was felt that our “future” needs to be more secured with a consolidation of the 3 Cs and well as conscious diversification to 3 Ts: Tourism, Tobacco and Tea.

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“These had backward and forward linkages,” he says, adding, “For instance; the rural economies, especially of out growers, prospered very well as there was an easy process of production and marketing of any agricultural produce. The services of extension workers were readily available. The specialized marketing boards like; Coffee Marketing Board (CMB), Lint Marketing Board (LMB), Produce Marketing Board (PMB), and Uganda Tea Authority (UTA) were on move and ensuring the economy thrives.”

The specialized banks for farmers like Uganda Cooperative Bank (UCB) and Uganda Commercial Bank (UCB) were available to fund the farmers at all farming seasons and marketing at enabling conditions, as their loans were more friendly and affordable, according to Akena.

On tourism as one of the 3 Ts, the UPC party leader said it led to development of a chain of hotels under Uganda Hotels across the country, railway lines and road construction to link up with game reserves and national parks as well as “upgrading our airports and air strips”.

“Uganda, at 59 years of uhuru, has to rediscover that past glory; what we are seeing at the border with Kenya rejecting our agricultural exports on grounds of substandard means that we need to work extra hard on our quality controls. Similarly, sugarcane growers, especially in Busoga and other parts of the country, are caught up with their produce as there is no market.”

Akena asks the government has to intervene and stabilizesugar cane growing and processing for our economic growth and development.

According to the book of “The Thoughts of an African Leader” Dr. Apolo Milton Obote, Okena, one of the Obote’s sons, reveals that the founding father of the nation was, on the third anniversary of independence, 9th October, 1965 quoted that, “The difficult problems of our country can be reduced to one issue—namely, how the demands and the aspirations of the common man for a fuller and satisfying life can be met fully, quickly and justly. It is to-day that we make clear to all that we shall not allow the interests of any Owekitibwa or any Bwana to outweigh those of the common man or Muwejjere.” So, the son adds: “The interests of the common man and that of the country should be the first priority.”

On Covid1-9

The Covid-19 pandemic that erupted globally two years ago and reached “Uganda more less” the same time, has given us time to assess ourselves how ready we are, especially with health facilities and food reserves to cater for the country under such unfolding emergencies.

UPC now notes that a lot of gaps came to surface and need to be fixed urgently. “At 59 years of uhuru, Uganda is battling it out to vaccinate an estimated/targeted population of 21 million and so far, the vaccination rate is still below 3million! This puts our future in uncertainty and we need to aggressively procure vaccines to ensure massive vaccination against Covid-19 pandemic.”

On Sunday, the Ministry of Health senior public relation officer, Emmanuel Ainebyoona said over 190,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson is expected to arrive in the country on 7, October 2021.

This, he adds, “is the government’s procured vaccines”.