The recently released report of the National Housing and Population Census ranked Busoga among the highest poverty-stricken sub regions in the country.
In a bid to address the alarming rate of poverty in the region, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who is currently touring the Busoga sub region, has tasked local leaders to prioritize wealth creation mobilization to local people to engage in commercial farming activities.
While presiding over the leaders meeting held at the Mayuge district headquarters ground on Thursday, January 23rd, 2025, President Museveni said those who have listened to his messages have since created much wealth and jobs in Uganda.
He cited Joseph Ijala in Serere districts and Mr. Nyakana in Fort Portal, among others, as those who have successfully managed to create wealth and jobs after listening to his messages.
“Most people who listened to my wealth creation messages have addressed the problem of household poverty. You the leaders, what you should really emphasize is the wealth creation; this will reach every home,” President Museveni noted.
Museveni said, “We, the freedom fighters, have ensured peace, and once you have it, even if you have the rough road, start the preaching of wealth creation at the household level because this is what I did in the cattle corridor.”
According to Museveni, once wealth is created at the household level, then the issue of lack of jobs shall automatically be resolved.
He noted that whereas infrastructures like tarmac roads are critical, it can barely eradicate poverty at the household level.
“These ones on the tarmac road in Kumi district are the ones in poverty. Imagine Ijala is earning over Shs2 billion and employing over 35 people, yet there is no tarmac road in Serere District,” Museveni explained.
“I appeal to you to talk of wealth creation and jobs first and foremost after peace. Development will follow. Why can’t you concentrate on creating wealth? Tarmac road has been in the Busoga subregion since 1960, but is there no poverty in Busoga?” Museveni asked.
He further tasked the local leaders to spearhead anti-poverty mobilization in the region to ensure effective implementation of wealth creation activities.
“Therefore appeal to you to supervise this programs seriously and it will help our people create wealth and it will create jobs. Once we are clear on that, then we can emphasize education. We should also emphasize free education in government schools. There is no good reason why we shouldn’t provide free education in government schools,” the president said.
“The new curriculum of the head, heart, hand, and wealth creation will equitably transform the country. We should also promote health. I have been here with you for over 39 years. Have you ever heard that Museveni is sick in the hospital, putting my legs up that I am sick? We need to maintain health.” Museveni said.
While on his second day tour of the Busoga region, President Museveni launched the Busoga Presidential Skilling Hub in Jinja and conducted a media interaction with the local journalists, among other programs.
During the leaders meeting, Busoga subregional leaders also endorsed President Museveni as their sole candidate in the forthcoming elections 2026.
