President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged the people of Lango sub-region to take advantage of the Parish Development Model (PDM) to uplift themselves from poverty. He described the program as a key solution to economic challenges facing households.
“This is the time to get out of poverty. The government is sending Shs100 million per parish every year, and in five years, that will be Shs500 million. In the third year, those who got the money first will start paying back with a small interest of 6% per year. This is really free money,” Museveni said.
The President made these remarks while addressing a public rally at Alanyi Primary School in Alebtong District as he concluded his zonal tour of Lango. The tour covered districts including Apac, Amolatar, Alebtong, Dokolo, Kole, Otuke, and Oyam under the theme: Securing Your Future through Shared Wealth Creation and Prosperity.
Museveni emphasized the need for leaders to count homesteads in every parish for better planning and allocation of resources. He assured residents that additional funds would be allocated to parishes with larger populations.
The President also called on the people of Alebtong and the entire Lango sub-region to use the peace established by the NRM government to focus on economic growth. He highlighted the security improvements in the region, especially the disarmament of the Karamojong cattle rustlers.
“You were very much disturbed by the Karamojong cattle rustlers, but now you say not even a goat has been stolen. That is what the NRM promised—total peace in all corners of the country,” he said.
Museveni urged Ugandans to differentiate between development and wealth creation. He explained that while development—such as roads and infrastructure—is the government's responsibility, wealth creation is an individual effort at the household level.
On employment, the President emphasized that wealth creation generates jobs. He pointed to successful entrepreneurs he met during his PDM assessment tour, including Joseph Ijala from Serere, who earns over Shs1 billion annually from his farm.
“The young people keep asking about jobs, but they don’t realize that jobs come from wealth creation. Those who tell you that government jobs are the only solution are misleading you,” Museveni said.
The President also addressed concerns over infrastructure, explaining that the government had prioritized poverty eradication through the PDM before road construction. He, however, assured the people of Alebtong that roads would be built once oil revenues start flowing.
“We would have worked on the Lira-Aloi-Apala-Adwari-Patongo-Abim road, but we had to divert money to PDM. It is not logical to have a tarmac road when poverty is still high,” he said.
On health, Museveni emphasized disease prevention over treatment. He cited immunization, malaria prevention, and proper nutrition as game changers. He also discouraged alcohol consumption, attributing his good health to abstinence. “I don’t drink alcohol. That is one of the reasons God has kept my health,” he noted.
On education, the President expressed concern over school fees in government institutions, which he said has led to high dropout rates. “We are going to get time to discuss this seriously,” he vowed.
Museveni also cautioned against wetland destruction, advising farmers to consider fish farming instead of rice growing. He argued that fish farming yields more income per acre than rice cultivation.
He thanked the people of Alebtong for endorsing him as the NRM presidential candidate but urged them to be patient as the matter would be discussed by the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC), National Executive Council (NEC), and National Conference.
The rally was attended by Vice President Jessica Alupo, ministers, MPs, cultural and religious leaders, and local government officials. It also saw 68 opposition members from Amuru district cross over to the NRM.
Alebtong LC5 Chairperson Odongo David Kennedy commended the government’s development programs and reported that 99% of PDM funds in the district had reached beneficiaries.
