Mr. Edward Mubiru, a humble and determined farmer in Meru Cell, Buvuma Town Council, Buvuma District, has built an inspiring life rooted in hard work and peace.

From his quiet home in Meru Cell, Mr. Mubiru looked back at his journey, one that began with fishing but has since blossomed into a thriving farming enterprise, thanks to the stability and support brought by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s NRM government.

“I thank President Museveni for the peace in this country. Without it, I wouldn’t be here. His wise leadership and government programmes like NAADS and Operation Wealth Creation have helped many of us find purpose. He truly cares about getting every Ugandan out of poverty,” Mr. Mubiru shared.

He made the remarks today during President Museveni’s visit to his home as he kicked off his countrywide Parish Development Model (PDM) assessment tour in Greater Mukono region.

In 2000, Mr. Mubiru made a bold shift from fishing to farming. With savings from his fishing days, he bought five acres of land and began planting bananas, supported by seedlings from the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS). That marked the beginning of a transformative journey.

Today, his farming enterprise spans an impressive 50 acres of land.

In 2007, inspired by his uncle, Mr. Mubiru added coffee to his crops. The success he earned from coffee enabled him to buy more land and expand his farming activities.

Today, his farm is a hub of agricultural diversity; growing coffee, bananas, cassava, maize, palm oil and pasture. The proceeds from these ventures allowed him to invest in dairy farming, and now he manages a herd of 25 cows on seven acres of land.

“The benefits from coffee are the reason I have cows. I sell milk daily and employ seven workers. Farming has made me self-reliant,” he said.

Mr. Mubiru recalled the high yields of earlier years. In 2013, he was harvesting up to 40 bags of coffee per season. But the onset of coffee wilt disease affected production, reducing his harvest to about 24 bags in the first season and 14 in the second. Still, he manages to earn around sh18m annually from the crop.

In 2023, he mentioned that Operation Wealth Creation intervened, giving him clonal coffee seedlings, resistant to the disease along with water pumping machines for irrigation.

“Even with the setbacks, I keep going. With government support and improved varieties, I know things will get better,” he said.

Mr. Mubiru also noted that his dairy venture earns him about Shs 2.4m per month, and after deducting expenses, he gets approximately Shs 7m annually.

Combined with his crop income, Mr. Mubiru estimated his total earnings at around Shs 30m to Shs 34m net per year.

More importantly, the peace and progress have allowed him to provide education for all his seven children. He highlighted that three attend private schools, and four are enrolled in government institutions.

“Today, I am very proud of the man I have become because of President Museveni. I have come a long way from fishing. My life is living proof that peace, opportunity, and hard work can lift anyone,” he concluded.

On his part, President Museveni commended Mr. Mubiru for embracing the government’s message of wealth creation.

The President praised the farmer for abandoning the overburdened fishing sector in favour of productive land-based enterprises.

“I am glad to be here and find the rich Mubiru,” the President said.

“He listened to our message of removing poverty, used the NAADS money well, and expanded into coffee and dairy farming”

President Museveni highlighted that Mr. Mubiru is now milking 80 litres a day from his cows, and his success proves what is possible when government support meets individual effort.

“He now has pasture, and just like the Minister said, he is just getting started. If he uses upgraded pastures like Chloris gayana and Brachiaria, he will do even better,” he advised.

In addition to dairy farming, President Museveni noted that Mr. Mubiru is benefiting from improved coffee seedlings supplied by the government.

“He told me he has received clonal coffee seedlings that are disease resistant. This is the right direction,” he remarked.

The President reaffirmed the government commitment to further support the palm oil project in the region.

“We are going to get money to support palm oil so we can enhance the machinery. We shall support the investor so that together with the outgrowers, they can reach 7,000 hectares,” he pledged.

USE THE LAKE SUSTAINABLY:

Turning to the issue of overfishing in Lake Victoria, the President called for a more regulated and sustainable approach to fishing.

“I want to thank the fishermen because some of you have now woken up, you brought overcrowding, which burdens the lake. That’s why the government introduced licenses to ensure only serious and responsible people fish, while others explore different livelihoods,” he said.

The President also warned that unregulated fishing threatens the sustainability of Uganda’s lakes and livelihoods of future generations.

“You cannot spoil our lakes and expect us to do nothing. Overcrowding must end. That’s why Mubiru is a good example; he left fishing behind and evolved,” President Museveni said.

“Mubiru started out as a fisherman here on this fish-hunting island, but he moved on. Let the few who are capable and disciplined be allowed to fish,” he added, encouraging the rest to follow Mubiru’s lead and pursue alternative income-generating projects.

To support Mr. Mubiru further, President Museveni revealed: “I have given him Shs 12 million to get a tuk-tuk to help him in his work.”

On the other hand, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Hon. Fred Bwino Kyakulaga encouraged farmers in Buvuma and across the country to embrace improved pasture varieties to increase livestock productivity.

Minister Bwino specifically advised Mr. Mubiru to focus on modern pasture management.

“You should grow improved pasture varieties that boost milk yield and animal health like Chloris gayana and Brachiaria as ideal options for the region,” he said.

The Greater Mukono is located in the Central region of Uganda, and it comprises the districts of; Mukono, Kayunga, Buikwe and Buvuma.

The event was also attended by Hon. Diana Mutasingwa, the Minister of State in the office of the Vice President and also the Woman of Parliament, Buikwe District, local leaders and PDM beneficiaries, among others.