By KT Reporter
President Yoweri Museveni has asked leaders in the Rwenzori region to embrace his poverty eradication strategies.
Museveni attributed the poverty in the country to the failure of leaders to support their people towards development.
While inspecting farmers under the parish development Model-PDM program in the districts of Kasese, Ntoroko and Bundibugyo on Monday, Museveni said that he started economic empowerment programs in 1966 while in Ankole, steering the cattle farming communities to embrace value addition for their milk products and later took on the message on development to the rest of the country.
He argued that, despite the success stories witnessed by beneficiaries of government-led development programs such as NAADS and Operation Wealth Creation, some members of the public and leaders have undermined these initiatives. He stated that it’s time leaders to reconsider serving the people’s interests and monitor government programs.
The president, who interacted with local beneficiaries in the three districts, encouraged them to take full advantage of the initiative to improve their livelihoods. He reiterated his vision for a self-sustaining and economically empowered Uganda, urging leader to support communities to embrace commercial agriculture and other income-generating activities under the PDM framework.
Gerald Rwemulikya Ibanda, the Ntoroko District Member of Parliament, said that while the program had recorded good success, the youth need to be sensitised more to understand that the money being received under the PDM program is intended for development.
While in Kasese, Museveni cautioned police officers against releasing individuals stealing items set up by PDM beneficiaries.
Speaking to a select beneficiaries at St. Peter’s Church of Uganda in Kasese Municipality, Museveni said that, unlike the previous poverty alleviation initiatives, PDM funds are controlled by the beneficiaries themselves, which offers them all the liberty to drive their financial destiny.
However, some Sacco members praised the program as a key start-up point for their household development.
Steven Kisembo, one of the beneficiaries from Kibuku West ward, Kibuku Ntoroko district, said he received 1 million shillings and bought four goats, and his farm has since grown to 20 goats today.
Kisembo, who received a donation of 10 million shillings from the President, envisages further growing his goat project-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
