President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged Ugandans to utilize government programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM) and commercial agriculture to escape poverty, describing it as a straightforward process for those who embrace peace and hard work.
“It is easy to get out of poverty in Uganda,” Museveni said while visiting Amudat District as part of his wealth creation and PDM performance assessment tour in Karamoja. “Programs like PDM offer simple ways—rearing goats, chickens, cows, and growing crops are all sources of income. Poverty here is ignorance and wrong guidance.”
The President commended the people of Karamoja for rejecting cattle raiding, which had previously hindered development. He stressed the importance of peace, recalling the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) long-standing message. “Those who told you to get wealth by raiding misled you. Raiding cannot bring wealth; it brings disease and death. But with peace, you can now build prosperity,” he said.
During his visit, Museveni met Amos Rhembuss, a PDM beneficiary and livestock farmer in Jumbe Village, Amudat. Rhembuss shared his success story, revealing how he used a government grant of one million shillings to buy sheep and goats. “I now have 11 sheep and five goats. My home is moving toward prosperity. I decided to settle because raiding brings nothing but loss,” Rhembuss said.
Museveni praised Rhembuss’s determination and offered him an additional five million shillings to expand his enterprise. He encouraged the people of Amudat to embrace livestock farming, crop cultivation, and other ventures aligned with government initiatives like the PDM and the four-acre model.
Highlighting the PDM’s structure, Museveni explained that each parish receives 100 million shillings annually, enabling households to access funds and repay them to create a self-sustaining community fund. “In five years, your parish will have 500 million shillings. This model will uplift all households if properly utilized,” he said.
Museveni also pointed to health improvements, including immunization programs, as key to Karamoja’s development. “Your population has grown due to immunization. Add nutrition, hygiene, and safe water, and you’ll achieve even better lives,” he stated.
Peter Lokeris, Minister for Karamoja, thanked the President for spearheading transformative programs like the PDM. “Initially, we doubted its success, but now we see the significant impact it has had on communities,” he said.
The President’s tour continues across Karamoja, where he is assessing the impact of PDM and other government initiatives aimed at eradicating poverty and improving livelihoods.
