Museveni calls on Ugandans to embrace the money economy

Mubende | President Museveni Yoweri has encouraged Ugandans to continue embracing the money economy in order to improve their standard of living.

Museveni, speaking to the country on the NRA/M 39th liberation day in Mubende on Sunday, stated that Uganda’s peace allows for development to thrive.

Museveni thanked the people of Mubende district and Greater Luwero for their support during the 1981-86 struggle, which eventually led to peace and stability.

He stated that Mubende was an operation area where various routes were used to attack Kabamba during Uganda’s liberation. He also acknowledged other districts, such as Kakumiro and Kagadi, for their contributions to the liberation movement.

“We did not fight for nothing; Mubende has now changed its outlook, which makes me very happy. There is no doubt there have been a lot of changes.”

Museveni stated that by Independence, Uganda had a small money economy, with only 9% of Ugandans involved in the money economy and 91% “working for the stomach.”

He explained that the small economy that eventually collapsed was caused by a shortage of essential commodities caused by poor leadership from leaders such as Amin, speculation, and the then-existing black market, which increased the price of dollars on a daily basis.

Museveni, 80, stated that the arrival of the NRM changed things for the better when five stages were followed, including the revival of shortages of (coffee, cotton, tea, and tourism) through Operation Wealth Creation initiatives.

He noted that deliberate efforts have been made to expand the economy, adding that diversification has been adopted, value addition has taken root and Ugandans have now embraced the knowledge.

The 2013 population census revealed that 68 percent of the population still lived in poverty, which unfortunately did not impress President Museveni.

He encouraged people to use Parish Development Model (PDM) funds wisely in order to participate in the money economy, prompting him to warn all leaders who misappropriate them to stop the vice, citing legal action against the perpetrators.

“You can all get out of poverty if we stop working for the stomach only; that is the transition from subsistence to commercial agriculture,” he said.

He noted that the government is going to pay all bank charges deducted from PDM pay out so that people get the scaled one million, minus any deductions.

He challenged leaders to know the number of people in each parish so that they can effectively plan for them, given the fund’s revolving nature, which allows dividends of growth to be shared by all.

The celebration was held under the theme “39 Years of NRM/A: Salutations to Those Who Re-sanctified Our Homeland.”

Prior to January 26, a medical camp was held from January 22 to 24, providing free eye treatment and giving away 600 free eye glasses.