West Nile urged to embrace Musevenomics for socio-economic transformation

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ARUA - West Nile region residents have been urged to adopt President Yoweri Museveni’s wealth creation philosophy to reduce poverty and increase household wealth.

The appeal was made by various speakers during the launch of President Museveni’s Philosophy of Management as applied to Economics (Musevenomics) for the West Nile region at Muni University on February 24, 2026.

Musevenomics refers to President Museveni’s comprehensive economic philosophy implemented since 1986, which is a systematic methodology for achieving sustainable economic growth, poverty reduction and socio-economic transformation.

During his recent national tour, President Museveni highlighted the importance of household wealth creation through the four-acre farming model.

We have failed

Arua city mayor Sam Wadri Nyakua, while opening the launch, challenged city and West Nile residents in general to embrace the president’s call on poverty alleviation and wealth creation.

Nyakua attributes the high levels of poverty in West Nile to the poor mindset change.

“You and I have largely failed President Museveni in his dream of putting money in people’s pockets. We have failed, in one way or another, to implement what he wanted leaders to do to ensure household income and a genuine shift from peasantry to proper wealth creation,” Nyakua regretted.

Nyakua noted that West Nile ranks second in poverty levels after Karamoja, attributing this largely to the region’s negative mindset.

“The only place you can find youths seated along major roads is in the West Nile. As soon as you cross the Karuma Bridge, you won’t find those youth loitering. If you see youth loitering in Karuma, Bweyale, or Kigumba, know they are from West Nile”, Nyakua added.

Live by example

Uganda Development Forum director Dr Edward Katende, who was the facilitator during the launch, told participants to live by example by being practical in wealth creation aspects being preached by the President.

Katende urged the leaders in West Nile to adopt the poverty eradication policies of Musevenomics that have been tested in alleviating poverty alongside the Parish Development Model strategy.

“The formula is what economists in Uganda have called Musevenomics. Museveni and Musevenomics have succeeded in the past by mobilising ordinary citizens to take up arms against whatever they felt was not right,” Katende said.

“So, the new enemy is no longer a man with a gun; the new enemy today is poverty. He is now summoning all of us to take up arms—not guns, but hard work in our respective communities to defeat this enemy called poverty," Katende added.

Meanwhile, National Planning Authority's Ronald Kisakye assured the leaders of the comprehensive National Development Plans IV, which prioritises infrastructural development and maintenance, including roads, energy and bridges, all aimed at enabling investment opportunities for the citizens.

Ayivu Division mayor Marlon Avutia, however, appealed to the Musevenomics secretariat to consider rural electrification if the region is to come out of abject poverty.

Former gender minister Zoe Bakoko Bakoru thanked participants for attending the day-long training on PDM, OWC, and Musevenomics.

“When I returned from Gulu, I started talking to many of you about Musevenomics, and many asked questions. Today, I can say that from now on, when people ask you about Musevenomics based on what you have heard from the presenters, you will be able to answer confidently,” Bakoko said.