Uganda Media Centre

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today met the family of the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon. Thomas Tayebwa in Nyamiyaga, Bitereko, Ruhinda-Mitooma District.

This was during a thanksgiving ceremony for Mzee Daudi Bangirana, the father of Rt. Hon. Tayebwa who was celebrating 80 years of life and 48 years in marriage.

In a meeting with the family, President Museveni commended Mzee Bangirana for being hardworking and for educating his children who became responsible citizens in the country.

The President further gifted Mzee Bangirana with 5 Friesian cows.

After the meeting, President Museveni proceeded to a rally at Rwakitandara Playground where he addressed the residents of Mitooma.

The President cautioned the residents against the politics of identity based on religion and tribe, saying it undermines prosperity of Ugandans.

He revealed that when the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government came into power in 1986, it advocated for politics of interest that focuses mainly on solving the problems of the citizens.

“We started with immunisation for all, then we resorted to free education for all through Universal Primary and Secondary Education (UPE/USE). We also dealt with security,” he said.

He however warned head teachers who charge fees in government owned schools, explaining that the charges make children of the poor drop out of school.

President Museveni also noted that the government is also working towards ensuring that all Ugandans become prosperous by joining the money economy.

He implored the people of Mitooma to embrace the four-acre model type of farming to improve their livelihoods.

“On one acre, grow coffee, on the second grow fruits, then the third one do zero grazing, and on the fourth acre grow food crops. At the back, do poultry and piggery for those who are not Muslims. If you are near the swamps, do fish farming,” he said.

He also urged them to adopt modern methods of farming like irrigation to increase productivity.

The President also cautioned the people of Mitooma to avoid land fragmentation by allocating shares to family members in percentages such that they can later share profits to save the land holding that is averagely at one and a half acres per family.

Furthermore, President Museveni reiterated his strong fight against corruption.

“Accounting officers, you should be very strict, don't let anyone mislead you, if anything goes wrong, you will be held responsible.”

Earlier, a new church- St. Karoli Lwanga in Kigarama Catholic Parish Bitereko, was commissioned. The church was constructed by Rt. Hon. Tayebwa, in a distinguished honour of his late grandmother Julita Kaijarubi Tiruhongyerwa.

The Rt Hon. Deputy Speaker of Parliament praised his late grandmother, Julita Kaijarubi who took care of him from the age of six years, showering him with love and care.

“It was so authentic, it's hard to put it in words,” he said.

Rt. Hon. Tayebwa further narrated how his highly spiritual grandmother groomed him well to live for God from a young age.

“The Holistic makeup of spirituality, hard-work and education are the life-important disciplines she instilled in me that have shaped me into the man that I am today.”

The ceremony was attended by the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon. Anita Among, Former Prime Ministers, Rt. Hon. Ruhakana Rugunda and Rt. Hon. Amama Mbabazi, Ministers, Members of Parliament, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, business people, among others.