President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has reiterated the need for Ugandans to focus on wealth creation through the Parish Development Model (PDM) and commercial agriculture, emphasizing that the private sector offers far more employment opportunities than the government can.
Addressing residents at Wabinyonyi playground in Nakasongola District, the President concluded his three-day performance assessment tour of PDM implementation and wealth creation programs in Greater Luwero. He used the occasion to challenge Ugandans to shift their focus from scarce government jobs to entrepreneurship and private sector employment
“People waste a lot of time looking for government jobs. In a developing country, there are more jobs in the private sector than in government. Government jobs are only 480,000, yet our population is 46 million. How can that satisfy everyone?” Museveni posed.
He cited examples of local farmers like Minister Fred Byamukama, who employs 26 people on a four-acre farm, and Nyakana Richard from Kabarole, who employs 15 workers on just 1.2 acres of land. Museveni argued that Uganda’s 40 million acres of arable land could be harnessed to create millions of jobs, potentially making the country a labor importer rather than exporter.
According to the President, Uganda’s 1.2 million factory jobs already triple government employment numbers, and PDM can further expand the workforce by empowering communities with tools and capital to start income-generating ventures.
Museveni stressed that the success of socio-economic transformation depends on six pillars: peace, security, development, wealth, health, and education. He urged Ugandans to support the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) for continued progress under these principles.
On development efforts, he cautioned against focusing solely on infrastructure, pointing out that despite decades of road development, poverty remains high in some areas.
> “This road to Gulu was tarmacked 60 years ago, but poor people still live along it. That’s why NRM focuses not only on development but also on increasing household incomes,” he said.
The President highlighted the success stories of PDM beneficiaries, such as Joseph Ijara of Serere, who earns over Shs 800 million in annual profits from poultry and livestock, and Tumusiime Deziranta, a 64-year-old woman thriving on a Shs 1 million PDM start-up fund.
Museveni also announced plans to establish a special fund for fishermen, following calls from leaders to support communities benefiting from streamlined fishing activities enforced by the Fisheries Protection Unit.
Local leaders including NRM Vice Chairperson for Central Region, Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi, and MPs Mutebi Noah Wanzala and Zawedde Victorious lauded the President’s visit and called for additional support, including a land fund to address conflicts with absentee landlords.
The rally was attended by various government officials, NRM leaders, and community members.
