President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has made a clarion call to residents of Ntungamo District to abandon wetland cultivation, citing its detrimental effects on the environment and its contribution to drought.
“We are coming up with a plan for water pumps and solar power, but I ask the people of this area to leave the wetlands,” he urged.
The President’s remarks came during an assessment of the Parish Development Model (PDM) in Ntungamo District, where he visited the enterprise of Molly Orikiriza, a beneficiary of the initiative.
Museveni emphasized the importance of embracing irrigation as a solution to water scarcity, highlighting the success of an irrigation project in Bushenyi.
“We have started an irrigation project here in Bushenyi, and we are planning to roll it out in other parts of the country,” he noted.
The President also cited the remarkable achievements of Dr. Florence Muranga, a farmer from Bushenyi, who harvests 53 tonnes of bananas from one acre annually using irrigation.
“This shows what irrigation can do. We must move away from relying on rain-fed agriculture,” he stressed.
To support farmers in their transition to irrigation, Museveni announced plans to introduce water pumps and solar-powered irrigation systems.
The President commended the people of Ntungamo for embracing the PDM, urging them to continue using the initiative to boost household incomes.
“I want to thank you for waking up and embracing the Parish Development Model. This program is key in helping our people join the money economy,” he said.
Maama Janet Museveni, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, encouraged local church leaders to support the PDM initiative and emphasize the importance of loving God, paying tithes, and working together as families.
Molly Orikiriza, a shining example of PDM success, shared her journey of transformation, from receiving a PDM fund to starting a poultry business and eventually shifting to onion planting.
“I didn’t know that uneducated people could ever access government money,” she remarked.
In recognition of Orikiriza’s success, President Museveni provided additional support, including Shs5 million to expand her onion farming and Shs10 million to purchase a motorbike.
Other PDM beneficiaries in the area also received support, with each of the ten beneficiaries receiving Shs1 million. The President pledged to provide 300 iron sheets, cement, and Shs50 million to aid in finishing the construction of a church in the area.
