Museveni in Butebo
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I The Bukedi Sub-Region Accelerated Wealth Creation Plan 2024 – 2040, has been launched.
The 16-year plan anchored on poverty alleviation for the people in the subregion, was launched by President Yoweri Museveni on Thursday August 22nd 2024 at Petete Primary School in Butebo District.
The Strategic plan is a comprehensive initiative designed to uplift the socio-economic status of the people in the Bukedi region.
The program will focus on key areas such as agriculture, industrialization, infrastructure development, and human capital enhancement, with the ultimate goal of transforming Bukedi into a prosperous and self-sustaining region by 2040.
While launching the strategy during a thanksgiving ceremony organized by Dr Monica Musenero, the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, President Yoweri Museveni called on residents of Butebo District to fully utilise their land to achieve greater economic prosperity.
“This is a very rich area; you can see how God arranged it,” he remarked, referencing his visit to the cassava processing centre.
He pointed out that many local farmers are mismanaging their land, particularly in the valleys where rice cultivation is prevalent.
He described this as a misuse of valuable resources and called for a shift towards more sustainable and profitable farming methods, such as irrigation and the use of fertilisers.
He shared successful examples from Pallisa District, where fish farming at the edges of swamps has proven to be far more lucrative than rice farming.
“By restoring swamps, engaging in fish farming, and irrigating dry land, farmers can significantly increase their income,” he said.
The President also encouraged residents to embrace diversified agriculture, including the cultivation of cash crops such as coffee and cocoa, as well as dairy farming and poultry.
He addressed the issue of land fragmentation, a common practice that he believes hinders agricultural productivity, advising families to form family companies to manage their land collectively rather than dividing it after the death of the family head.
“If the head of the family passes away, don’t fragment their property. Instead, form a family company, work together, and share profits. This way, you can grow wealthier and eventually buy your own property,” he advised.
As an example, he shared the story of Dr. Musenero’s family, who reunited their 70-acre estate to grow coffee, cocoa, and pasture for dairy cattle.
Lukonge Cotton Launched
The President officially inaugurated Lukonge Cotton Company Limited, a company dedicated to cassava starch production.
It should be noted that Uganda has historically depended on imported starch for pharmaceutical manufacturing, leading to high import costs. Thus, the establishment of this cassava starch manufacturer marks a significant step towards self-sufficiency in starch production, which is essential for medicine manufacturing.
Jessica Alupo, the Vice President, lauded the residents for being developmental, urging them to work harder and advance the development of the country.
Scientists hailed
Dr. Musenero acknowledged the role of scientists in advancing Uganda’s development, emphasising the transformative power of science. She noted that the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation has developed tools that can rapidly transition communities.
“For science to be effective, it must be transformational. We now have tools that can bring about significant change in a short time,” she added.
Patrick Mutono Lodoi, the Member of Parliament for Butebo Constituency, hailed the Government for the various programs, such as Emyooga and the Parish Development Model, which have greatly benefited the people.
The MP acknowledged the government’s efforts in expanding Butebo’s health infrastructure, where the UPDF Engineering brigade upgraded the Health Centre IV.
Bukedi Sub Region
Bukedi sub-region is found in Eastern Uganda. It comprises the districts of Busia, Butebo, Pallisa, Tororo, Budaka, Butaleja and Kibuku. The total population for the region stood at 2,191,700 people in 2019.
The most populous district in Bukedi sub region is Tororo with a projected mid-year population of 583,400 persons in 2019.
The region is home to the Bagwere, Banyoli, Basamia, Japadhola, Itesots and other tribes. These have unique cultural heritages with significant practices, dances, dishes and sites with a great potential of tourism.
This coupled with the scenic establishments like the Tororo rock and similar sites presents the area with a clear investment opportunity, according to Uganda Investment Authority, what investors should look at is the clear deficit of accommodation and leisure facilities in the area.
The region is also ripe for commercial agriculture with special focus on cotton farming especially in the zoned districts of Pallisa, Tororo and Busia.
Viable opportunities do exist in rice farming given the fact that the region is home to the Doho irrigation rice scheme which has been rehabilitated by the government to propel paddy rice farming.
Fruits popularly grown in this region include Mangoes, Oranges, Pineapples and other citrus fruits. This makes the region ripe for agro-processing, which could be used to stimulate sustainable value addition along the entire value chains of rice, cotton, cassava, which will in turn create jobs and wealth for inhabitants.
