President Yoweri Museveni has commended the 1st Deputy Prime Minister, Gen. Moses Ali, for engaging in production saying that as a leader, Gen. Ali had shown a brilliant example in fighting against poverty.

“I want to thank Gen. Moses Ali for taking part in waking up people in this part of Uganda,” he said.

He noted that a leader must be part of the efforts to help people wake up. He noted that all countries, even the developed ones, were at one time backward but their people woke up after the renaissance and enlightenment movement, started the fight against diseases and engaged in mass production using electricity, among others.

The President made the remarks in Esia village of Kifiro Sub-County in Adjumani District, Northern Uganda during his tour of Gen. Ali’s mixed farm yesterday. The farm has sunflower, cotton, soya beans, coffee, goats and cows.

President Museveni also commissioned Riela grain processing factory, a German-derived facility that handles post harvest, storage and seed preservation chores in the region.

Mr. Museveni strongly advised the people of Adjumani District to wake up and copy Gen. Ali’s example. He also asked other leaders to be examples to help wananchi get out of poverty.

“You cannot say you people get out of poverty when you yourself are not an example of one who fights against poverty or when you are lazy and do not work hard,” he said.

Regarding requests for Government to establish a textile factory in the area, the President expressed readiness to not only have there a cotton factory but also for other produce in the region and other parts of the country. He noted that Africa has lagged behind in development because of lack of factories.

Mr. Museveni saluted the initiative of having Riela grain-processing factory in Adjumani noting that the facility will go a long way in combating and reducing diseases, such as liver, cancer, that are associated with poor storage of produce. He pledged the replication of the initiative country wide to sensitize wananchi on proper food storage.

On infrastructure, the President gave assurances that the road from Atiak to Moyo on to Yumbe and to Koboko, will be done and that electricity supply will be stepped up to help the population increase production leading to development.

First Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business in Parliament, Gen. Moses Ali, thanked President Museveni for sparing time out of his busy schedule to be with the people of Adjumani. He requested for spinning mills to be sited in the area to cater for the increased production of cotton in the region.

ENDS