Help Ugandans transform economically, Museveni tells leaders

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President Yoweri Museveni has urged religious and cultural leaders to play an active role in fighting poverty, saying they must go beyond preaching and tradition to guiding communities toward economic transformation.

“People being poor in a country that has everything is a big mistake and it’s largely a failure in leadership,” the President said on May 12, 2025.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni being guided by Stephen Kisembo (in a black Jacket) a Parish Development Model (PDM) beneficiary. (Photo by PPU/ Tony Rujuta)

“I’m not just talking about political leaders, but also religious and cultural ones. These should be like parents to the people,” he said.

The President also questioned how spiritual and traditional leaders can claim moral authority yet fail to provide practical guidance on livelihoods.

“How can you be a pastor or cultural leader when you can’t even feed the flock with real solutions?” he added.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni listening to the speeches of the guests when he visited Stephen Kisembo, a Parish Development Model (PDM) beneficiary. (Photo by PPU/ Tony Rujuta)

President Museveni made the remarks while in Ntoroko district on the first day of his tour of the Rwenzori region, where he is visiting Parish Development Model (PDM) beneficiaries to assess the programme's impact on the ground.

He was visiting Steven Kisembo, a 34-year-old resident of Kisungu II Cell in West Ward, Kibuuku town council, Ntoroko.

Kisembo, a PDM beneficiary, now owns 18 goats.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni delivering his speech during the Presidential PDM Zonal Tour for Rwenzori sub-region at the home of Stephen Kisembo, a Parish Development Model (PDM) beneficiary. (Photo by PPU/ Tony Rujuta)

The President emphasised that Ugandans must listen to the message of the NRM (National Resistance Movement) party if they are to thrive economically.

“This country is easy to work in. Take goats, for example, they can produce two or even three kids in just six months,” he said, stressing that ignoring NRM's tested guidance is a mistake.

He reminded the gathering that the NRM’s message is not theory but practical.

“We started with just 27 guns and succeeded. We know what we are talking about. I started transforming my people in Ankole in 1966 from nomadism to modern dairy farming. By 1995, Nyabushozi had changed. Then in 1996, we put the Four Acre Model in our manifesto,” he noted.

Under this model, he explained, one acre is for coffee, one for fruits like mangoes or citrus, one for pasture for livestock, and the fourth one for food crops.

Stephen Kisembo, a Parish Development Model (PDM) beneficiary delivering his testimony during the Presidential PDM Zonal Tour for Rwenzori Sub-region. (Photo by PPU/ Tony Rujuta)

“This is a sustainable way out of poverty. We also introduced Entandikwa to give people a starting point,” he added.

President Museveni also mentioned that his leadership is a divine responsibility.

“I am working for God. He gave me the blessing to lead, and if I mislead or fail to help the people, He can punish me,” he said.

He called on local leaders to closely monitor PDM implementation, promising that more support would be added.

Stephen Kisembo, a Parish Development Model (PDM) beneficiary and his wife Kabajungu Florence praising the PDM project success during the Presidential PDM Zonal Tour for Rwenzori sub-region. (Photo by PPU/ Tony Rujuta)

The President also donated shillings 10 million to Kisembo, to help him buy two acres of land and expand his goat project.

On his part, Kisembo thanked President Museveni for the PDM initiative, saying that it had really improved the livelihoods of Ugandans.