President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on residents of Ntungamo District to stop wetland cultivation, warning that it is a major cause of drought.
Speaking during an assessment of the Parish Development Model (PDM) in Rwentobo, Rwahi Town Council, Museveni emphasized the need to respect environmental laws by vacating wetlands.
“We are coming up with a plan for water pumps and solar power, but I ask the people of this area to leave the wetlands,” he said.
The President, accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Museveni, assured residents that irrigation would address water scarcity.
“We have started an irrigation project in Bushenyi, and we plan to expand it across the country. The results on banana plantations are clear,” Museveni said.
He cited Dr. Florence Muranga, a Bushenyi farmer who harvests 53 tonnes of bananas per acre annually, compared to the district’s average of 5 tonnes.
“This shows what irrigation can do. We must move away from relying on rain-fed agriculture,” he emphasized.
Museveni pledged government support for farmers through water pumps and solar-powered irrigation systems to ensure a steady water supply.
PDM Transforming Lives
The President commended Ntungamo residents for embracing the PDM, urging them to use it to boost household incomes.
“I want to thank you for waking up and embracing the Parish Development Model. This program is key in helping our people join the money economy,” he said.
Maama Janet encouraged church leaders to promote values such as hard work, tithing, and support for the PDM initiative.
“PDM has helped families become more responsible and work together. Such values build strong homes,” she said.
Molly Orikiriza, a PDM beneficiary, shared her journey of transformation with the President.
In October 2023, she received Shs995,000 from the PDM, added Shs5,000, and invested in poultry farming. After selling 100 chickens at a profit of Shs900,000, she shifted to onion farming.
Using a Shs2.5 million SACCO loan, she cultivated three kilograms of onion seedlings, selling 45 sacks for Shs10.8 million. After repaying the loan, she made a profit of Shs6.74 million, which she used to complete her house and pay school fees.
Orikiriza reinvested in 300 more chickens and onion seedlings. Despite poultry losses, she remains optimistic about her future.
“I didn’t know that uneducated people could ever access government money,” she said.
Presidential Support for Farmers
Museveni rewarded Orikiriza’s success with Shs5 million for her onion business and Shs10 million for a tukutuku (motorbike) to aid transportation.
Ten other PDM beneficiaries received Shs1 million each, while the President pledged 300 iron sheets, cement, and Shs50 million to complete a local church.
The event was attended by Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, and several MPs.
The PDM aims to uplift rural households by transitioning them from subsistence farming to a cash economy, increasing incomes, and improving livelihoods.
