Good foundation for NRM manifesto
Nov 21, 2005
IN his acceptance speech as presidential candidate for the NRM, President Museveni outlined a substantial legislative programme.
IN his acceptance speech as presidential candidate for the NRM, President Museveni outlined a substantial legislative programme.
Museveni had earlier briefed the delegates conference on key areas for progress including fast-tracking the East African Federation; Universal Secondary Education; pursuing value-added in small and medium scale agriculture; and industrialisation.
In his acceptance speech, he went further to identify fresh proposals such as the eradication of malaria, health insurance, export of instant coffee, resolving the mailo land problem, and recapitalising the mortgage industry. These are all dynamic development targets which are ambitious but achievable. Nevertheless they will need to be debated and fine-tuned.
Malaria eradication hinges on the widespread provision of bednets and spraying DDT on indoor walls.
The use of DDT is controversial but this is how the United States and Europe eliminated malaria in the 1940s. The proposal to set up a Health Insurance Fund is very positive but it should not become a monopoly like the NSSF. Employers should have the option to follow other insurance schemes for their employees that are approved by the state.
Clearly investors should be encouraged to process Ugandan coffee for export but this positive development should be driven by the private sector.
Uganda’s agricultural potential has been crippled by its archaic land laws, in particular the system of mailo land. The smallholder, commercial farmers and potential investors have all suffered.
Somehow government has to cut through the red tape and resolve this problem for once and for all. In an ideal world, all Uganda farmers, both large and small, would own their land freehold in five years time.
Uganda has had a stable macro-economic environment for nearly two decades. The time is indeed ripe for enhanced mortgage lending but ways must be found to extend it beyond Kampala. All in all, this looks like a good foundation for the NRM election manifesto in 2006.
Museveni had earlier briefed the delegates conference on key areas for progress including fast-tracking the East African Federation; Universal Secondary Education; pursuing value-added in small and medium scale agriculture; and industrialisation.
In his acceptance speech, he went further to identify fresh proposals such as the eradication of malaria, health insurance, export of instant coffee, resolving the mailo land problem, and recapitalising the mortgage industry. These are all dynamic development targets which are ambitious but achievable. Nevertheless they will need to be debated and fine-tuned.
Malaria eradication hinges on the widespread provision of bednets and spraying DDT on indoor walls.
The use of DDT is controversial but this is how the United States and Europe eliminated malaria in the 1940s. The proposal to set up a Health Insurance Fund is very positive but it should not become a monopoly like the NSSF. Employers should have the option to follow other insurance schemes for their employees that are approved by the state.
Clearly investors should be encouraged to process Ugandan coffee for export but this positive development should be driven by the private sector.
Uganda’s agricultural potential has been crippled by its archaic land laws, in particular the system of mailo land. The smallholder, commercial farmers and potential investors have all suffered.
Somehow government has to cut through the red tape and resolve this problem for once and for all. In an ideal world, all Uganda farmers, both large and small, would own their land freehold in five years time.
Uganda has had a stable macro-economic environment for nearly two decades. The time is indeed ripe for enhanced mortgage lending but ways must be found to extend it beyond Kampala. All in all, this looks like a good foundation for the NRM election manifesto in 2006.