President Museveni has highlighted a number of gains that Entebbe and Wakiso district have achieved over the last 40 years under the NRM government.
“You, the people of Entebbe, we liberated you from the roadblock on the waters where they used to rob you. Since then, you have never seen any other roadblock. Uganda is at peace. This peace has led to wealth and development,” Museveni said.
“Many people have become wealthy. In Abayita Ababiri, there were only four shops, but when you go there now, big shops are all over. When we came, from Nansana to Lubigi it was bush; Kawanda was also bush, where we used to lay our ambushes,” he added.
The President was campaigning on Monday at the Ministry of Works Grounds in Entebbe Municipality. He said that because of peace, development has been achieved, and many people have benefitted by becoming wealthy. However, he expressed concern about the large number of people still living in poverty.
“Wealth is here, but we want everyone to be rich. We don’t want a country of the poor and the rich living side by side,” Museveni said.
He emphasized that the government is ready to support people to create wealth for themselves and lift themselves out of poverty.
“There is peri-urban agriculture—rearing animals and growing crops in peri-urban areas like Kasanje, Kasenyi, and Nakawuka. Non-Muslims can rear pigs in their backyards, while others can raise chickens for eggs,” he said.
“The money we send you through PDM, Emyooga, NAADS, and for Ghetto and Boda Boda projects should be used to lift yourselves out of poverty by engaging in activities that earn you money,” he added.
Museveni said the government will also assist artisans who produce goods that were previously imported from abroad, including furniture, shoes, clothes, and other items.
“For example, we import furniture from Dubai, which is a desert and has no trees! This means we have been sleeping while a desert without forests produces chairs and beds for sale to a country that has many forests. Items like furniture and footwear, which we have been importing, can be made here,” he explained.
The President added that tourism provides another opportunity for wealth creation in Entebbe.
“The other source of wealth is tourism. If you protect places like the Botanical Gardens and beaches, you will attract many tourists who come to rest but also spend money. Tourists buy food, stay in your hotels, and leave you with cash,” he said.
He concluded by emphasizing proper use of government programs: “PDM is a good program that you should use to get out of poverty. If the money sent is not enough, we shall add. If anyone steals the money, we will get to them.”
