PRESIDENT MUSEVENI LAUDS EMYOOGA SACCO SUCCESS IN NAKAWA, PLEDGES MORE SUPPORT

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today met with beneficiaries of the Emyooga SACCO program in Butabika and Mutungo, Nakawa Division. The visit showcased the progress and impact of the government-backed initiative aimed at enhancing household incomes through job creation and skills development. President Museveni who was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, expressed his satisfaction with the growth and performance of the Emyooga SACCOs in the area, noting that the groups are beginning to thrive. He reiterated his long-standing message that the path to prosperity is through wealth creation, specifically in three key areas: commercial agriculture, artisanship (such as carpentry and welding), and service-based enterprises like tailoring, salon work, catering, and boda boda transport. “I’m happy to see you have accepted to start slow — even a baby starts by crawling,” the President remarked, highlighting the importance of patience and persistence in building sustainable businesses. He commended the group members for gradually embracing the idea of self-empowerment and learning by doing. “Now you have started waking up. You can hear Tuhirirwe wants more space, but before she started, she didn’t see the need for more space,” he noted. To bolster the growth of their businesses, President Museveni contributed UGX 100 million to their Emyooga SACCOs and announced that the government has allocated UGX 1.5 billion to ghetto groups in major urban centres such as Kampala, Jinja, and Mbale. Mr. Kibuka Adam, Chairman of Zone 2 SACCO, noted that both the Emyooga and Parish Development Model (PDM) programs are making positive strides in the area, although challenges such as limited land remain. Ms. Tuhirirwe Winnie, Chairperson of the Mutungo-Mbuya 1 Tailoring SACCO, shared success stories of how the SACCO has empowered women and youth through skills in tailoring, fashion design, jewelry making, and machine use. She explained that the SACCO has not only improved livelihoods but has also helped members escape the trap of predatory moneylenders, thanks to affordable lending within their SACCO. “Our lives have changed. People now have skills and can earn a living. However, we face challenges of inadequate space for training and production,” Ms. Tuhirirwe said. She also highlighted the need for additional funds to accommodate the growing number of people seeking loans and to fulfill their vision of establishing a tailoring factory for mass production and export. In response, President Museveni reassured the members of continued government support and emphasized the importance of scaling up their activities while remaining grounded in the principles of hard work, organization and discipline.

2025-07-20

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI PLEDGES UGX 1 BILLION PER GHETTO STRUCTURE IN KAMPALA

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has pledged to increase government funding for ghetto-based wealth creation initiatives, by raising allocations from UGX 100 million to UGX 1 billion per structure in each division of Kampala annually, citing high population density and unmet needs within Uganda’s urban poor communities. President Museveni made the remarks on Friday, July 18, 2025, during the resumption of his Parish Development Model (PDM) and wealth creation tour in Kampala, with a stopover in Bwaise II, Nabukalu Zone, Kawempe Division, one of Kampala’s most densely populated and economically marginalized areas. “Now here in the ghetto, because of the high population numbers, we can go from UGX 100 million to UGX 1 billion per parish per year for the ghetto structures alone,” President Museveni said. “In the 22 parishes of Kawempe Division, there’s already UGX 2.2 billion of PDM each year, but the ghetto needs special attention.” President Museveni explained that this funding increase is part of a broader government strategy to boost small-scale, self-sustaining income-generating activities among the urban poor, many of whom lack access to formal employment or business capital. “Kampala will receive UGX 5 billion for ghetto-specific programs across its five divisions,” he said, adding that this is over and above the existing PDM allocations. Despite a torrential downpour that lasted nearly an hour, the President braved the weather and toured various micro-enterprises supported by previous rounds of ghetto funding. These included goat rearing, electrical repairs, tailoring and design, bakery, and printing services, among others. The President, who was accompanied by key mobilizers and local government officials, emphasized the need for what he called “pro-poor budgeting,” warning that much of the national budget is being lost to administrative costs and unproductive expenditures. “Some of the expenditure is not productive, money spent on salaries for district officials, new districts, and unnecessary administrative units. This money should be going to the poor, to PDM, and ghetto empowerment,” H.E. Museveni added, calling on ghetto leaders and youth to become active participants in national decision-making, not just beneficiaries of it. “Support me politically so I’m not just left in the hands of technocrats and parliamentarians. If we unite and you support these programs, we can transform Uganda from the bottom up,” he stated. He cited recent efforts in Ntungamo, where there was pressure to create new districts, despite stagnant population levels. “Recently, I had a big effort in Ntungamo; people wanted to create more districts: Ruhama, Kajara, and Rushenyi. Yes, the district is big, but the population has not increased. So this area, which is small and compact, why do you want to have more managers, and why do you want to spend money on that instead of prioritizing education for the children of the poor?” he wondered. “Instead of spending money on new MPs and district officials, we should invest in education, roads, drainage, and the ghetto economy,” the President added, while urging residents to monitor government funds meant for them, including the UGX 10 billion allocated to Kawempe under the PDM over the last four years, as well as money from Emyooga, the Youth Livelihood Fund, and the Women Entrepreneurship Fund. “Follow the money and ensure it is not eaten. You received UGX 500,000 and managed to start something. That shows the potential when funds reach the right people,” he said. In a deeply personal reflection, President Museveni recounted his first visit to the ghetto in 1968, when he was a university student active in underground political movements. “I went to Katwe and connected with Abas Kibazo and others. That’s when I began understanding the plight of the abawejjere—urban poor who had been forgotten after independence,” the President said. He detailed how the Katwe group later contributed to the anti-Amin liberation effort in the 1970s, with some of its members joining him on missions to Mbarara, Dar es Salaam, and later Mozambique for military training. “When Amin took power on 25 January 1971, we met that afternoon, and we decided to fight him. He had no chance because he didn’t understand anything,” H.E. Museveni said, adding that people like Ahmed Ssegguya, recruited from Katwe, became part of the force. The President later handed over the ghetto groups to be managed by Hon. Amama Mbabazi in 1974, but many leaders didn’t know how to work with the uneducated, yet these people had skills in mechanics, carpentry, and printing. Mr. Sadam Kiggundu, known in the ghetto as Amigo, thanked the President for the UGX 140 million his structure had earlier received. He appealed for special skill centers in the ghetto to teach vocational skills like tailoring, welding, and carpentry, especially now that the number of vulnerable children in Kawempe has grown from 700 in 2022 to over 4,000 in 2024. Mr. Sserunkuuma Nesta Sabiiti, aka Peace-Keeper, said President Museveni’s direct engagement with ghetto youth had transformed their perception and economic opportunities. “It’s good that you’ve come in the rain; now you have seen how we live when it floods. We appreciate you and promise full support in the 2026 presidential election,” he said, further appealing for a boxing gym, better public toilets, and improved drainage systems, calling them urgent health and safety priorities for the community. Other ghetto residents also shared stories of success from the initial rounds of funding. Ms. Opicia Dorothy from Nabukalu Zone said she used UGX 500,000 to start a broom business and has since managed to educate all her seven children. A sack of soft broom seeds sells for UGX 80,000, while finished brooms go for between UGX 1,000 and 3,000 each. Mr. Mubiru Wilberforce and Oscar Ssematimba also shared their success in goat farming. Starting with two goats in October 2024, they now own 25 goats, showing how small investments can grow into sustainable businesses. On the issue of education, President Museveni revisited his earlier educational reforms, such as the Universal Primary Education (UPE) initiative introduced in 1996, saying it has been undermined by corruption and poor oversight. “Headmasters connive with PTAs to charge illegal fees. LC5 chairmen and MPs don’t follow up. The poor suffer, and children drop out,” he said, blaming this partly on misguided political priorities. The President highlighted the State House skilling hubs as a successful initiative that provides a six-month vocational training to youth who never completed school. “We’ve shown that you can turn someone with nothing into someone productive. Everyone now wants skilling hubs,” he said. The President later concluded his tour with a public rally at Kawempe Mbogo Mosque Playground.

2025-07-19

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI CALLS FOR HOUSEHOLD CENSUS IN KAMPALA TO REFINE PDM BUDGETING

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed local authorities in Kampala's five divisions to establish accurate data on the number of households within their jurisdictions to help in the equitable allocation of funds under the Parish Development Model (PDM). The call was made on Saturday, July 19, 2025, during his visit to Kyambogo Complex Parish in Nakawa Division, where he met with PDM beneficiaries, including a standout success story, Ms. Mbabazi Lillian. The President emphasized the need for a data-driven approach to planning and budgeting for the PDM program, highlighting that the uniform allocation of UGX 100 million per parish annually is insufficient for urban centers with dense populations and high demand for financial support. “So, this is the kibalo (calculation) I want in the town: to know how many parishes and how many homesteads are in each parish so that when we plan, we shall give over one million, plus some additional funding, based on the number of homes in that parish,” said President Museveni. He noted that urban parishes, like those in Kampala, are experiencing overwhelming demand for PDM funds, and the current funding structure fails to cater effectively to the high number of eligible households. During the meeting, President Museveni who was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, also toured the poultry enterprise of Ms. Mbabazi, a PDM beneficiary who used her UGX 1 million funding to launch a successful poultry business. Mbabazi initially purchased 125 broiler chicks with UGX 350,000 and invested the remaining funds in feed and poultry housing. After a month, she sold the broilers for UGX 1.5 million and reinvested in a second round, earning UGX 2.6 million. Her success did not stop there. She later bought 250 more chicks at UGX 700,000 and sold them for UGX 3.2 million. Eventually, she transitioned into layer chicken farming for egg production, purchasing chicks at UGX 6,500 each. After three months, her hens began laying, and she now collects six trays of eggs daily. Standing beside her husband, Mr. Samuel Rukundo, Mbabazi expressed gratitude to the President and the government for initiating the PDM. “Now I have some achievement because I was badly off due to COVID-19. My children now go to school, and we’re doing well. I have UGX 3 million in savings and have also started a small juice and chips business,” she said. Despite her success, she voiced concern over her lack of permanent land, stating that her current residence is on Kyambogo University property, which restricts her expansion. Moved by her story, President Museveni congratulated Mbabazi for exemplifying the benefits of PDM when effectively implemented. He offered her UGX 10 million to scale up her poultry business and pledged to buy her two acres of land for permanent settlement and farming. “When I come here and see that Rukundo and Mbabazi have implemented one of the seven items under the four-acre model, then I feel very happy,” President Museveni stated. Additionally, the President extended UGX 10 million in cash to each PDM beneficiary from the Kyambogo complex parish. President Museveni used the opportunity to reflect on Uganda’s economic transformation journey since independence. He underscored the challenge of transitioning the population from subsistence farming to a money economy, citing that in the 1960s, only 4% of households were integrated into the monetary system. He explained that Uganda’s traditional economy revolved around “3 Cs and 3 Ts”—cotton, copper, coffee, tobacco, tea, and tourism. While some communities, particularly in Buganda and Northern Uganda, engaged in commercial farming, the majority remained in subsistence agriculture. “In my district, Ntungamo, there were six shops for Indians and Arabs. But we had land, banana plantations, and cows, just for home consumption. This has been our struggle,” President Museveni said. To reverse this, he initiated the four-acre model, a strategic framework advocating for diversified farming focusing on items such as coffee, fruits, pasture for dairy, food crops, and backyard enterprises such as poultry, piggery, or fish farming. “Those who listened have moved. Masaka focused on coffee and is doing well. Poultry and dairy are also transforming lives,” he remarked. President Museveni narrated the historical evolution of government-led wealth creation initiatives, from the Entandikwa program through LC structures to NAADS and eventually Operation Wealth Creation (OWC). While OWC saw a marked improvement in integrating Ugandans into the money economy, reaching 61% by 2020, President Museveni expressed discontent over reports of favoritism by UPDF officers. “I started hearing stories that the soldiers were “baali beegabira bokka” (giving to friends and relatives), spoiling the name of the UPDF. I told them, let the army get out. Let’s give money directly to people at their parishes. If they misuse it, God is there; he will deal with them,” the President said. He cited the success of Mbabazi as a vindication of the shift to direct disbursement of funds under the PDM. Highlighting the case of Kawempe Division, President Museveni noted that with 22 parishes each receiving UGX 100 million annually, a total of UGX 6.6 billion has been injected into approximately 7,000 households over the past three years. “This money, if used wisely, can transform lives. You don’t need a moneylender who charges UGX 400,000 per month, UGX 5.8 million a year. With PDM, you return UGX 1 million plus UGX 120,000 interest in two years,” H.E. Museveni explained, further urging beneficiaries to understand the revolving nature of PDM and not expect lump-sum access to the fund, emphasizing that with patience, all will benefit. President Museveni’s visit to Kyambogo marked one of the penultimate events of his nationwide PDM sensitization tour, which has seen him crisscross the country to evaluate impact, inspire uptake, and recalibrate the program’s delivery. The grand finale will be held on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala, where a mega rally is expected to draw thousands of Kampala residents. The event in Kyambogo was also attended by key government figures, including Government Chief Whip Hon. Hamson Denis Obua, National PDM Coordinator Hon. Denis Galabuzi Ssozi, KCCA Executive Director, Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki and her deputy Mr. Benon Kigenyi, Presidential Advisors Hajjat Sarah Kanyike and Hon. Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, among others.

2025-07-19

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI URGES GHETTO YOUTH TO SAFEGUARD PEACE AS A PATHWAY TO WEALTH

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today called on the ghetto youth to guard the peace Uganda currently enjoys, describing it as the bedrock of development, service delivery and personal wealth. Addressing hundreds of youths at Kawempe Mbogo Mosque Playground in Nabukalu Zone, Bwaise II, Kawempe Division, the President emphasized that peace is not just a political achievement, but a personal investment that benefits every citizen, especially the young people in urban areas. “I greet you all, people of Kawempe. I am happy to be here to talk to you. Peace is the first and most important thing. Without it, nothing else is possible. No roads, no schools, no hospitals, no jobs,” President Museveni said. The President pointed to the booming infrastructure across Uganda from rural farms to urban factories, as visible fruits of peace. He displayed images of ongoing development projects and buildings in Kalangala and Kampala to illustrate his point. “You may say those buildings are not yours, but let me tell you, every bag of cement, every tonne of steel, every nail used in those buildings pays tax. That tax is what we use to immunize your children, build roads, and bring piped water to your homes,” he said. To demonstrate the long-term value of peace and tax-funded public health, President Museveni invited a woman living with polio to address the gathering. She confirmed that she was born in 1974 before the NRM took power. “That child is for UPC. Since 1997, no child under my government has suffered from polio, thanks to immunization programs funded by tax revenues, these few that could have gotten it is because their parents did not take them for immunization. That’s the value of peace.” He urged the youth to look beyond the surface and recognize how national progress benefits them personally. “When you support peace, you are supporting yourself. If you doubt it, go and see countries without peace and see what life is like there,” the President stressed. President Museveni then shifted focus to development and wealth creation, reminding the crowd that having infrastructure alone is not enough. “You can have a tarmac road in your area, but at night, you don’t sleep on it, you sleep in your house. If that house is full of problems, then development alone isn’t enough. That’s why, from the beginning, NRM has emphasized wealth at the household level,” he said. The President also revealed that over the past four years, the government has sent over shs10bn to Kawempe through the Parish Development Model (PDM), with shs100m going to each of the 22 parishes every year. “Kawempe is not in Congo or South Sudan, it is right here in Kampala. Go to the Town Clerk and ask where the shs10bn has gone,” he said. The President therefore tasked Hajjat Madinah Nsereko, the NRM flag bearer for Kawempe South, and Faridah Nambi, the NRM flag bearer for Kawempe North, to head a follow-up committee to verify how the funds have been utilized. “I have created a committee led by Madinah and Nambi. I will support them fully. We want transparency,” the President declared. President Museveni explained that while the PDM cannot reach everyone at once, it is being rolled out in phases, particularly targeting agriculture. “Each household is supposed to receive shs 1m, and according to the Town Clerk’s report, over 7,000 households in Kawempe have already benefited,” he said. The President reminded Ugandans that while development is a collective responsibility, poverty is personal and must be tackled individually. “You can have a paved road, but if you sit idle beside it, you’ll remain poor. Every household must take advantage of national development to improve their own livelihood,” he warned. He once again cited the Four-Acre Model, first introduced by the NRM in 1996, as a proven pathway to rural wealth. The model encourages families to grow coffee, fruits, food crops, and pasture on a small plot of land, while practicing poultry and piggery farming in the backyard. He identified Mr. Joseph Ijara from Serere, who started with 2.5 acres and now earns over shs 800 million annually through poultry farming. “This is what we mean by waking up. You, too, can do it,” President Museveni told the ghetto youth. He further acknowledged the role of artisanship, trade, and innovation in urban areas, noting that wealth is not only agricultural. “Peace, development, services, markets, and wealth are the pillars of transformation. Let us guard them jealously because the future is yours,” he concluded. The Minister for Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs, Hajjat Minsa Kabanda commended President Museveni for his commitment to uplifting urban communities through the Parish Development Model. Hon. Kabanda praised the targeted support extended to the 22 parishes in Kawempe under the PDM. “Your Excellency, we thank you for your unwavering support to the people of Kampala.” Hon. Kabanda noted that the funds are reaching ordinary citizens and fueling household transformation by supporting income-generating activities in agriculture, trade, and services. “The impact is visible on the ground. People who had lost hope are now starting small businesses, improving their homes, and sending children to school,” she said. She added that the leadership in Kampala is committed to working with government structures to ensure transparency and effective monitoring of PDM funds. On her part, Hajjat Madinah Nsereko, the National Resistance Movement flag bearer for Kawempe South applauded President Museveni for his unwavering support to the youth living in Kampala’s urban ghettos. She expressed deep gratitude for the President’s visible and lasting interventions in improving the lives of disadvantaged communities. “Your Excellency, we are very happy to see you here in Kawempe. We thank you sincerely for standing with the ghetto youth and for the continuous support you have extended to our communities. Your efforts have brought real change,” she said. Delivering an update on the progress of ghetto transformation efforts, Maj. Emma Kuteesa, the Presidential Coordinator for Ghetto Affairs, said over 12 Ghetto SACCOs were structured and registered. He mentioned that this was a directive given by the President and implemented under the leadership of Gen. Christopher Ddamulira, Director of Crime Intelligence. “Your Excellency, under your guidance and directive, and with the oversight of the State House Comptroller, we successfully established 12 SACCOs across Kampala Metropolitan. These SACCOs cover youth from some of the most vulnerable zones including Kakeeka in Rubaga, Kasangati, Kampala Central, Nakawa, Kawempe, Makindye, Mukono, Kasokoso, Nansana, and Masajja Para Zone,” Maj. Kuteesa said. He revealed that President Museveni officially launched the SACCOs at Kololo Independence Grounds in December 2023, and later on July 30, 2024, donated shs1.2bn, with each SACCO receiving shs100m. This was a game-changer. From a few hundred members, our ghetto SACCO network has now grown to over 10,000 youth in Kampala Metropolitan, and over 40,000 countrywide,” Maj. Kuteesa reported. “The injection of funds and organizational support has birthed over 500 small-scale projects and businesses in Kampala, Wakiso, and Mukono. These ventures range from welding workshops, goat-rearing farms, mushroom growing, to creative industries like music and fashion,” he mentioned. Maj. Kuteesa noted that the positive impact of these interventions is already evident. “Your Excellency, crime rates have gone down significantly in the ghetto communities because the youth are now occupied and productive,” he said. “They are no longer seen as idle or dangerous, but as entrepreneurs, artisans, and agents of development.” He further praised the involvement of the ghetto youth in national structures and civic participation, particularly within youth councils and community development programs. Also present at the event were the Government Chief Whip, Denis Hamson Obua, Hon. Evelyne Anite , the Minister of State for Investment and Privatization, Hajjat Sharifah Buzeki, the Executive Director of Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), the Director for Mobilisation at the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Secretariat, Hon. Rosemary Nansubuga Sseninde, Ms. Jane Barekye, the State House comptroller , Ms. Hellen Seku, the commissioner of the National Secretariat for Patriotism, among others.

2025-07-18

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI MEETS EAC SECRETARY GENERAL

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni yesterday met and held fruitful discussions with the Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), H.E. Veronica M. Nduva, at State House, Entebbe. The two leaders discussed issues of mutual interest aimed at strengthening regional integration and cooperation among EAC member states. The meeting was also attended by Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs.

2025-07-17

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI PASSES OUT 413 UPDF OFFICERS TRAINED IN ADVANCED MILITARY WARFARE TACTICS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who is also the Commander In Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), has today passed out 413 army officers who underwent an armor military warfare course at the Uganda Military Academy - Kabamba, Mubende District. ‎The 413 graduates who include 74 Armor platoon commanders, 122 Armor technicians and 217 Armor crews were all trained in advanced military warfare skills and tactics for six months. During the ceremony, President Museveni congratulated the graduates for successfully finishing their course. “I want to congratulate the graduates for learning quickly in six months where you mastered this equipment of tanks in the four courses that have been mentioned here. I want to congratulate you and pass you out today,” he said. President Museveni also tasked the officers to ensure comprehensive packaging of defence capabilities in their military operations. “As I told your commanders, war is an old science and an old art. Science in the form of equipment and art in the way you are organised and utilise the equipment. Science always influences the organization and the tactics,” he said. ‎‎President Museveni also cautioned the graduates to understand the existing threats to armor defence technologies and adapt to the necessary counter approaches. “‎The tank has new threats like the air force which has been improving and the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), so we need to understand the packaging of capacity.” President Museveni further urged the officers to look after their lives well so that they can progress in life. “Love yourself so that you don't die of diseases, alcohol or drugs. You should remain healthy but as we told you, you must also love your equipment because if you don't look after it well, especially if you are corrupt, when war comes you will die. When you see a corrupt soldier, he is your enemy and the enemy of the country,” he urged. The President also assured the officers that the modernisation of UPDF is still continuing and commended the leadership of the army on strides made to professionalise the force. “I'm happy that the CDF is still working on welfare, training, and infrastructure. We have been busy building barracks and other training facilities.” ‎The Deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lt. Gen. Sam Okiding revealed that the UPDF is fast tracking the upgrade of all military training facilities to centers of excellence and 14 of them including the Uganda Military warfare Academy - Kabamba have attained that status. Furthermore, ‎Lt. Gen. Okiding cautioned armor military trainees to maintain precision and competence and avoid delusive behaviors and lifestyles. ‎‎The Commandant Armored Warfare Training School – Karama, Brig Gen. Peter Chandia explained that the 413 graduates were skilled in mechanized warfare and in the fundamentals of fire power mobility. Brig.‎ Gen. Chandia also revealed that the graduates were competent enough to skilfully employ mechanized resources in contemporary battle spaces. ‎At the same event, the best students were recognized.

2025-07-17