President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on Ugandans to embrace wealth creation and move away from poverty by fully utilising government development programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM).
While addressing a campaign rally at Ikwera, Aduku Town Council in Kwania district on October 3, Museveni urged residents to transform their livelihoods and take advantage of the funds being channelled to parishes every financial year.
He stated that in five years, each parish will have received shs500 million, adding that in the third year, beneficiaries will start repaying their respective SACCOs rather than the government, as previously announced.
The President further announced that the government will increase the allocation for PDM leaders from shs100 million to shs115 million, enabling equitable access to the revolving fund.
Museveni explained that this increment will ensure that all leaders at the parish level can effectively benefit from the PDM, which remains the flagship program for household wealth creation across Uganda.
The NRM presidential candidate in the forthcoming general elections also revealed plans to establish dedicated funds for fishermen, saying the nature of their work requires higher capital than what the PDM currently provides.
He noted that one million shillings under the current PDM arrangement is not sufficient for fishermen to effectively engage in their trade. The President said the government will therefore create a special fund tailored to the needs of fishing communities so that they too can participate in wealth creation.
In addition, Gen (rtd) Museveni disclosed that a special fund will soon be introduced for university graduates who have remained unemployed for more than two years after completing their studies.
The government recognises the challenges young graduates face in finding employment and that the new initiative will help them start income-generating projects and contribute to the economy, he announced.
Religious leaders, including Bishops, Reverends, and Sheikhs, he said, will also receive government support through a special fund.
Museveni, however, clarified that this particular fund will not be annual and will be limited to recognised religious leaders. The initiative is aimed at supporting religious institutions that play a crucial role in promoting peace, unity, and moral guidance within communities.
All social categories, including boda boda riders, taxi operators, and ghetto youth, will benefit from the government’s wealth creation programs.
He emphasised that the NRM government does not want spectators but active participants in the country’s economic transformation, adding that with wealth creation, every Ugandan must be a player in production and development.
Addressing issues specific to northern Uganda, Museveni said the government will soon launch a restocking program under the cattle compensation scheme to help restore livelihoods affected by past insurgencies and cattle rustling.
He acknowledged that the earlier phases of the program were marred by theft, corruption, and irregularities, but assured the public that new reforms would ensure transparency and fairness. Museveni revealed that he had already consulted leaders from Teso and Lango sub-regions and proposed that each homestead receive five cows, a suggestion that was widely supported.
The President reaffirmed his government’s commitment to delivering on the seven pillars of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) as part of its vision for the next five years. He urged Ugandans to uphold discipline, hard work, and innovation as key principles for achieving sustainable development and self-reliance.
Museveni’s message in Kwania was consistent with his broader campaign theme of transforming Uganda from a subsistence to a money-based economy through inclusive and practical wealth creation initiatives.
On Tuesday, Museveni will have a rally in Oyam town council before heading to Pakwach district for his reelection campaign.
Discover more from tndNews, Uganda
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.