President Museveni says Busoga would be richer than it is if her people were helped with information on the sustainable use of her natural resources.

Citing the swamps, for example, the President said many of them are currently being used to grow rice and sugar.

And while the region has been able to produce food and earn income, the activity is not sustainable because it is degrading the environment.

The President was speaking during the 43rd Tare Sita celebrations in Bugweri district in Busoga region on Tuesday, February 6.

“When I was coming here, there is a big swamp, but you are growing rice and sugar cane. This is not a rational use of that place because that swamp is a reservoir for water. We need water for irrigation for our agriculture.

“But you are now drying it by growing rice here. And you are getting little money. You are working hard growing muhogo (cassava) and ebikaddo (sugar canes) but I want us to do something with a good ekibalo (feasible venture).”

Speaking at the event, the President promised to return to the area at an appointed time soon to help locals with modern methods on how they can continue deriving a living from agriculture, but in a sustainable way.

He said he has previously done so in Eastern Uganda in Pallisa in a place called Limoto, adding that it is working wonders.

“We agreed with the people there that they take agricultural activities to the fringes of the wetland. As a result, the centre of the wetland came back and we have now restored it.”

Tarehe Sita is a Swahili word meaning the sixth day, which in this context is the day of February 6, 1981, when the war to fight the government born out of the disputed 1980 elections was launched with an attack on Kabamba Military Barracks.

This year's event was held under the theme Celebrating the Peoples’ Struggle for Unity, Security, and Peace for Socio-Economic Transformation.

At the event, the president was accompanied by over 17 members of the cabinet, Vice President Jessica Alupo, the Minister of East African Affairs Rebecca Kadaga, Finance Minister Matia, Defence Minister Bamulangaki Ssempijja and Security Minister Maj. Gen Jim Muhwezi among others.