Museveni pledges support to Gomba youth and women

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President Yoweri Museveni on Saturday reechoed his long-standing commitment to eradicating poverty in Uganda as he attended a thanksgiving ceremony of Kissakyamukama Yiga and his family in Degeya village, Maddu sub-county in Gomba district.

He recounted how, since the 1960s, he has advocated for wealth creation, beginning in the Ankole region where he urged communities to abandon nomadic pastoralism in favour of settled dairy farming.

He said the people listened, and many have since transformed their livelihoods.

The President also revisited the four-acre model promoted in the NRM’s 1996 manifesto, tailored for households with small land holdings.

He encouraged farmers to adopt the model by planting coffee on one acre, fruits on the second, pasture for animals on the third, and food for the family on the fourth.

They are also advised to use the backyard for rearing poultry or pigs (for non-Muslims), and fish farming for those near swamps.

“If you do these seven activities, you cannot remain poor,” said Museveni.

He thanked Kissakyamukama for standing for the truth and fighting corruption, adding that he will support him in the fight.

He also explained how he found the people of Kisozi, Gomba, in abject poverty when he bought land in 1990, but that he fought the vice by constructing schools where children studied for free.

The President further explained how he supported his neighbours with coffee seedlings and encouraged them to transition from poverty to wealth creation.

He said he is glad Kissakyamukama has fought his way through the hard poverty up to the point of building a good house for his mother, he is educated and no longer poor.

Kissakyamukama was recently appointed by the President as the Presidential Assistant on Service Delivery.

In response to community requests, Museveni pledged several interventions to support local economic development.

He committed to giving Kissakyamukama 1,000 goats to be distributed to the youth, as well as tractors to boost agricultural mechanisation among young people.

Additionally, he pledged sh100m to women SACCOs in Gomba to empower them economically.

On the contentious issue of forest land, the President promised to engage government authorities to grant leases to long-time occupants, while warning against further encroachment.

He encouraged beneficiaries to plant trees such as avocado to contribute to environmental conservation efforts.

On his part, Kissakyamukama thanked the President for transforming his life “from grass to grace” and pledged unwavering support to the NRM government.

He also thanked Museveni for treating his mother.

On the other hand, Kissakyamukama and his family donated four Ankole cows to the President for transforming their family into what it is today.

Kissakyamukama also raised concerns about technical incompetence and alleged corruption among district officials, as well as nepotism, which he said hindered effective service delivery.

Sylvia Nayebare, the Woman Member of Parliament for Gomba, said that under Museveni's government, even children from humble backgrounds studying under Universal Primary Education (UPE) have gone on to succeed.

Museveni concluded his visit by reiterating his desire to see Ugandans escape poverty and achieve prosperity, noting that when he bought land in Kisozi, he never intended to live among poor people.

“I want transformation for all Ugandans."