President Yoweri Museveni has said that the NRM ideology does not believe in having different social and economic class structures in a single country with some citizens living in poverty while others are socially and economically well off. He said that because of that belief, the NRM has overtime implemented mass programmes such as mass immunization, UPE, USE and asked the population to embrace the current government efforts to fight household poverty through the Prosperity for All Programme.

“I used to dance long time ago in 1966. The last time I danced with a girl she was such a bad dancer, she would go this direction while I go the opposite direction and she would end up stepping on my toes, it was a disaster. It is the same as what used to happen with development. Things were not rhyming and there was disorganization. If you have a few educated people and many uneducated people, it would be like having an uncoordinated dance,” he said.

The President noted that though government has put in place most developmental infrastructure such as roads, electricity, hospitals, and schools and has guaranteed the security of person and property, it is the responsibility of individual Ugandans to exploit these and transform their livelihoods through improving their incomes and ensuring food security in their homes. If the population cannot utilize them to generate income, the country cannot take off and undergo transformation.

“Sensitising people is not easy because there is too much talk and people forget to pick out the important issues. We can talk about electricity and roads etc, but these are not the solution for poverty. Fighting poverty starts with you, in your homes. If you had your pigs or chicken, will they refuse to be loaded on a pick-up to go to the market because the roads are bad?,” he asked.

The President was addressing rallies at Butema in Luweero Sub-County in Katikamu North Constituency and at Katikamu Nyimbwa Sub-County in Katikamu North, Luweero district where he is on a two day tour of NAADS projects to promote government’s Prosperity for All programme. He also visited two farmers including a progressive farmer Joseph Sebugenyi of Bulema-Lwoogi Village, Kabakedi Parish in Katikamu who is involved in commercial pineapple production which he also exports and earns over 100 million shilling per year. Sebugenyi also has bananas, coffee and cattle that have boosted his incomes. He also visited the farm of Mr. Yusuf Mubiru of Luyobyo village in Kiyande Parish who earns over 22 million shillings from bananas, coffee, poultry and maize production.

The President explained that household poverty was the main remaining challenge facing Ugandan citizens. He said that whereas the government can provide essential developmental needs of society, it could not produce tangible solutions for each household without its involvement.

“There are four most important things that you must do as an individual. Protect your lives and those of you loved ones, support the Movement Government through Kisanja because it has protected you against many things, improve your household incomes and food security and save,” he said.

Mr. Museveni, called for collective action and citizens’ involvement in fighting household poverty noting that family income was an automatic route to socio-economic transformation of any society.

“Don’t bother yourselves with Government lubimbi. If you did your part with government support, you would even provide for yourselves these services. Just imagine yourselves with Shs.100 million a year. Would you complain of power yet there is cheaper solar power”, added.

He advised them to take advantage of the present development programmes such as NAADS, the micro-finance programme and get themselves out of poverty and promised that government will boost funding in these programmes to ensure their success in the coming year. He appealed to the population to have the saving culture stressing that even society savings could be turned into revolving funds’ organizations.

On the recent amendment to the land bill, the President noted that the intention was to protect bibanja holders from unlawful evictions.

Mr. Museveni cautioned teachers who levy fees in UPE and USE schools noting that the act was illegal. He threatened legal action against such teachers. He also cautioned the youth against the deadly HIV/AIDS pandemic and asked them to abstain from pre-marital sex.

The President equally cautioned medical practitioners against the evil of stealing government medical drugs for use in private clinics, and warned of arrests and prosecutions of all those found guilty.

The President was accompanied on his tours by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Prof. Khiddu Makubuya, the Woman Member of Parliament, Ms. Rebecca Lukwago and Member of Parliament for Katikamu North Eng. Byandala Abraham James.