NAKASONGOLA, Uganda — President Yoweri Museveni on Thursday urged Ugandans to embrace the Parish Development Model, a government initiative aimed at alleviating poverty, stating it has the potential to generate significantly more jobs than the public sector.
Speaking at a rally in Wabinyonyi playground, Museveni emphasized that wealth creation at the grassroots level, particularly through commercial agriculture and small-scale enterprises, is crucial for sustainable job growth in the country.
“People waste a lot of time looking for government jobs,” Museveni said. “And the leaders also don’t explain very well that in a developing country, there are more jobs in the private sector than in the government because the government jobs are few.”
He noted that government employment, including civil servants, police, military, teachers and health workers, totals 480,000 positions, a small fraction of Uganda’s 46 million people. In contrast, he said, factories already employ 1.2 million people, three times the number in government jobs.
Museveni cited examples of individuals successfully creating employment through agricultural ventures, such as State Minister for Transport Fred Byamukama, who employs 26 people on his 4-acre farm, and Nyakana Richard, who employs 15 people on 1.2 acres.
“Uganda has 40 million acres of arable land,” the president said. “If we used only seven million acres like Nyakana has done, and each acre created 15 jobs, we would have 105 million jobs, more than all the people of Uganda.”
He advised parents to guide their children toward opportunities in commercial farms, factories and service sectors, or to become job creators in commercial agriculture.
Museveni underscored six pillars for socio-economic transformation: peace, security, development, wealth, health and education, stressing the importance of prioritizing them with patriotism.
He urged continued support for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), highlighting its focus on unity and wealth creation. Museveni differentiated between development, such as infrastructure, and household income, noting that despite improved roads, poverty can persist. He mentioned NRM initiatives since 1995, including Entandikwa, NAADS, Operation Wealth Creation, Emyooga and the current PDM, as efforts to boost household incomes.
The president also praised individuals who have prospered through these initiatives, including Joseph Ijara, who earns over 1 billion Ugandan shillings annually from poultry and livestock on two and a half acres.
Museveni projected that if taken seriously, parish SACCOs under the PDM could grow to hold 1.6 billion shillings within 10 years, freeing beneficiaries from exploitative money lenders. PDM beneficiaries are expected to return their 1 million shilling loans with a 120,000 shilling interest after two years.
He encouraged active participation in parish SACCOs to ensure fair leadership elections, addressing concerns about favoritism.
Museveni also pledged to establish a special fund for fishermen, acknowledging leaders’ appreciation for the fisheries protection unit’s role in streamlining fishing activities.
Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi, NRM Vice National Chairperson for the central region, thanked Museveni for his visit to Greater Luwero, interpreting it as a sign of appreciation for local wealth creation efforts.
Nakasongola County MP Mutebi Noah Wanzala and Woman MP Zawedde Victorious advocated for a special land fund to compensate absentee landlords evicting tenants.
Ministers and Members of Parliament were among the attendees at the event.
