President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, yesterday addressed a rally at Kichwamba Secondary School in Kitagwenda District, thanking residents for their cooperation in maintaining peace and rejecting rebel activities.
He credited the prevailing peace to the National Resistance Movement (NRM)’s politics of interest rather than identity, its commitment to women’s emancipation, and non-discrimination based on religion or tribe.
The President highlighted that while infrastructure like tarmac roads and electricity are important, they cannot uplift individuals without a source of income. He stressed that the government’s current priority is to boost homestead income, arguing that financial stability begins at household level.
President Museveni assured citizens that even those with small land holdings can succeed, citing Richard Nyakana from Fort Portal, who runs a thriving one-acre farm.
He outlined the Parish Development Model (PDM) as a key initiative to support poor Ugandans lacking startup capital. Under the PDM, each parish receives Shs 100 million annually, and beneficiaries can borrow Shs 1 million at a 6% interest rate repayable in over two years. He insisted the money belongs to the people and will never return to government coffers, urging locals to report any officials misappropriating the funds.
President Museveni reiterated his commitment to free education in both primary and secondary government schools, revealing plans to invest more in recruiting teachers and building classrooms. He announced the donation of buses to Kichwamba Secondary School and Humura Secondary School and contributed Shs 60 million towards the construction of Kitagwenda Mosque.
Local leaders, including Kitagwenda Woman MP, Hon. Nyakato Dorothy and Kitagwenda County MP, Hon. Nulu Byamukama, thanked the President for creating Kitagwenda District and for initiating the PDM initiative.
Hon. Byamukama also appealed to the President to tarmac roads in the district to ease coffee transportation to markets.
