PRESIDENT MUSEVENI LAUNCHES SECOND PHASE OF FOUR-ACRE MODEL CAMPAIGN IN BUNYORO

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni yesterday launched the second phase of the Four-Acre Model campaign in Bunyoro sub-region, with a renewed call to Ugandan households to embrace commercial farming as a sure path out of poverty. The launch took place at Nalweyo Playground in Kakumiro District. The campaign covers the districts of Masindi, Kiryadongo, Hoima and Buliisa. The first phase of the Four-Acre Model in Bunyoro, was launched in November 2024 covering districts of Kakumiro, Kagadi, Kibaale, and Kikuube. The campaign, led by President Museveni and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja focuses on mobilizing farmers to diversify their land for various agricultural activities and promoting division of land into four main sections for coffee, fruits, food crops, and pasture for livestock. Earlier in the day, President Museveni met with the beneficiaries of the first phase of the Four-Acre Model at the home of Hon. Fred Byamukama, the State Minister for Transport. He later toured the farm of model farmers, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Balikagira, in Kihauguzi village, Kakumiro District, before proceeding to address the rally. Speaking at the event, the President reminded farmers that the Four-Acre Model is not a new idea, but a vision he first introduced in the 1996 NRM Manifesto. He said the model is designed to guide smallholder farmers on how to earn sustainably from limited land. “If you have only two acres and grow cotton or tobacco, you’ll remain poor. But if you plan well with ekibalo (calculation) you can generate serious income,” President Museveni explained. He outlined the ideal land use plan: one acre for coffee, one for fruits such as mangoes and pineapples, one for pasture to support dairy cows, and one for food crops to ensure food security. Backyard farming, he added, can supplement income through poultry, piggery (for non-Muslims), and fish farming. “Fish farming, for instance, can bring in up to Shs80 million a year from one acre of ponds,” the President revealed, urging farmers to adopt diversified, high-yield agriculture. President Museveni also highlighted success stories inspired by the Four-Acre Model. Among them was Mr. Joseph Ijala from Serere District, who turned two acres into a poultry farm with 1,000 chickens, earning Shs3 million monthly from eggs. Today, Ijala earns more than Shs1 billion a year from poultry and dairy. He also cited Hon. Byamukama, who makes over Shs55 million a month from poultry farming alone, and Mr. Richard Nyakana, a farmer in Kabarole who employs 15 people on a single acre of land. “These examples show you what is possible. Please listen carefully to the NRM message. Plan number one is commercial agriculture. From there, we go to manufacturing and then services, and others. These are the pillars that will transform Uganda,” the President emphasized. The President also reminded the people of Bunyoro of the wider benefits brought by the NRM government, including peace and improved infrastructure. “Today, we have tarmacked roads, and with peace restored, it is now possible for farmers to work and transport their produce profitably,” he said. Beneficiary Speaks out: In a press interview, Mr. Balikagira proudly shared how he transitioned from subsistence farming to commercial agriculture after embracing the model. “I started with just coffee seedlings from the government. In my first season, I earned Shs8 million, then Shs12 million, and last year a total of Shs18 million from coffee alone,” he said. With his earnings, Mr. Balikagira diversified into bananas, poultry, goats, pineapples, and dairy farming. “I now sell up to Shs800,000 worth of bananas every month, goats at Shs200,000 to Shs400,000 each, and milk at Shs1,400 per liter. From poultry, I sell both eggs and broilers,” he explained. The farmer, who once struggled to provide for his family, is now a proud homeowner and able to send his children to school. “I thank the government for this initiative. I started with nothing but today I am a model farmer,” he added. The event was also attended by the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, cultural and religious leaders, among others.

2025-09-21

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI'S ROADSIDE MARKET PROJECT REACHES GRASSROOTS VENDORS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s initiative to uplift roadside market vendors on Friday, 19th September 2025 extended direct support to 957 traders along the Jinja road corridor, with each receiving UGX 100,000. The beneficiaries included Kitigoma, Lugalambo, Najjembe, Namawojjolo and Maroon Markets. The package was delivered on behalf of the President by Princess Pauline Nassolo, Senior Presidential Advisor-Elderly, and Ms. Flora Kabibi, Senior Presidential Assistant on Women Affairs. Princess Nassolo urged the vendors to channel the boost into expanding their businesses rather than diverting it to other uses, stressing that the package is meant to generate income. She reinforced the President’s wealth creation message, noting that while the government has invested heavily in infrastructure, education, and health, many Ugandans remain poor because they are outside the money economy. She said the President’s goal is to raise household incomes. Ms. Kabibi commended President Museveni for prioritizing the poor and called on vendors to support him and NRM flag bearers, saying they are the only leaders committed to advancing the needs of ordinary people. She reminded the traders that in addition to the roadside vendors’ project, other government programs such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga remain open to them if they engage their leaders to access the benefits. The vendors welcomed the President’s support with gratitude. Peter Bukenya, a trader at Najjembe, said the package would help them escape exploitative money lenders. Charles Mukuye, chairperson of Namawojjolo Supermarket, thanked the President for additional capital and a Fuso truck to ease transport, though he raised concerns over frequent road accidents that affect their businesses. James Wandera, chairperson of Maroon Market, hailed the government for extending safe water and additional capital to them. Launched in 2023, the Roadside Market Vendors Project was designed to uplift informal traders often left out of mainstream government initiatives such as PDM, Emyooga, and NAADS. The program has since enabled thousands of small-scale traders to strengthen their businesses while encouraging them to also tap into broader national development programs.

2025-09-20

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI INJECTS SHS 11.1 BILLION IN SACCOS OF MECHANICS, MCS AND SKILLING HUBS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today injected a total of Shs11.1 billion in SACCOs of mechanics in the five divisions of Kampala City, Masters of Ceremonies (MCs) in the 18 zonal regions of the country and Industrial Skilling Hub beneficiaries in 176 administrative units that include districts, cities and municipalities. The President handed over the funds today to the representatives of the respective SACCOs during a meeting at State Lodge, Nakasero. The Skilling Hubs received Shs8.8 billion with each SACCO entitled to Shs50 million, the Mechanics SACCOs received Shs500 million with each taking Shs100 million and the MCs SACCOs received Shs1.8 billion with each of the 18 groups getting Shs100 million. Handing over the funds, President Museveni explained that the money is meant to benefit ordinary Ugandans and it should be at a very affordable interest rate. “The loans the beneficiaries receive must be at 6 percent, not more than that per year and this should be put in a legal document. Anybody who doesn't do it goes to jail,” he warned. “The reason I say 6 percent is because the inflation is at around 3 percent. This will help us to keep our money in check. I give you Shs1 million, then after a whole year, you return Shs1.06 million. The ones for Parish Development Model (PDM), we give them two years so that they can first harvest.” President Museveni further assured beneficiaries that once they utilise the funds well, the government will inject more money into their SACCOs. “For the PDM, we have been insisting on Shs1 million, but with you, you must sit with Barekye and see how much you can borrow. For instance, we said for fishermen, the Shs1 million is not enough so we are going to give them a special budget because the equipment they use is expensive,” he said. “Write a special document on how you are going to use that money, then I sign.” The State House Comptroller, Ms. Jane Barekye revealed that such project is part of President Museveni’s broader initiative to economically empower ordinary citizens such as market vendors, ghetto youth, MCs, mechanics, among others. She also clarified that on the part of the Skilling Hubs, Kampala is not among the current beneficiaries because they are still registering their SACCOs. Ms. Barekye also explained that the Skilling Hub SACCOs’ funds will benefit only those who have finished training under the different hubs whereby they will be eligible to borrow start-up capital and pay back after one year. The meeting was also attended by the Special Presidential Assistant on Press and Mobilization Haji Faruk Kirunda, who is coordinating the MCs SACCOs; Director of Presidential Projects and Industrial Hubs, Eng. Raymond Kamugisha, handling the Skilling Hub Beneficiaries SACCOs; Special Presidential Assistant on Service delivery, Mr. Yiga Kisakyamukama, handling the Kampala Garage SACCOS; chairpersons of the Skilling hubs around the country and representatives of the MCs led by the Chairperson of Aboogezi Bokumikolo United Savings Cooperative, Mr. Ssegujja Fred.

2025-09-20

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI IMPRESSED BY BUSESA DEMONSTRATION FARM IN KIBAALE

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has hailed Busesa Demonstration Farm in Buyanja East Constituency, Kibaale District, as an inspiring model for wealth creation and agricultural transformation. The President, who was in Bunyoro sub-region—specifically Kagadi and Kibaale districts, on Saturday September 20, 2025, to inspect ongoing wealth creation initiatives, toured the 1.5-acre demonstration farm owned by Mr. Richard Lubega. During a guided tour, Mr. Lubega showcased a variety of integrated enterprises including cattle rearing, piggery, rabbit keeping, and poultry production. The farm currently produces an impressive 75 trays of eggs per day from its poultry section. Visibly impressed by the farm’s productivity, President Museveni pledged additional support to expand its livestock section. “I’m impressed by what this man is doing at this farm. I can see he has one cow, so I'm giving him Shs12 million shillings to buy two more cows,” the President said. The Busesa Demonstration Farm is part of the broader government effort to encourage Ugandans to adopt small-scale commercial farming models that can generate steady household income. While in Kibaale, the President also visited the 4-acre model farm of State Minister for Transport, Hon. Fred Byamukama, and other exemplary farmers who have embraced wealth creation programs. He later addressed a public rally at Nalweyiso in Hoima district. President Museveni was accompanied by Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Matia Kasaija, Minister of State for Transport, Hon. Fred Byamukama, and NRM Vice Chairman for Western Region, Hon. Asiimwe Jonard, among other leaders.

2025-09-20

PRESIDENT MUSEVENI EXTENDS SUPPORT TO KAMPALA EVENING MARKET VENDORS

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has today extended support to over 9,000 evening market vendors operating under the Toninyila Market initiative in Kampala. Each vendor, mainly dealing in cooked food sold on city streets, received UGX 100,000 to boost their businesses. The State House Comptroller, Ms. Jane Barekye, delivered the package on behalf of the President and commended the vendors for their resilience in working with limited capital to sustain their livelihoods. She urged them to use the funds strictly for business growth, emphasizing that the program is ongoing and will cover all divisions of Kampala. The rollout began in the Central Division and will later extend to other divisions. Ms. Barekye noted that the President’s directive is to reach “the last person” by directly supporting small-scale traders, particularly those often excluded from mainstream government initiatives. She praised President Museveni for prioritizing household income enhancement through support to small businesses. Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Mobilization, Mr. Moses Byaruhanga also addressed the vendors, highlighting that while the NRM government has established broad anti-poverty measures such as the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga, evening street vendors had not been adequately included. He said the President specifically tasked his team to organize and support the evening market, recognizing its role in Kampala’s economy. Mr. Byaruhanga further called on the vendors to rally behind President Museveni and the NRM flag bearers in the forthcoming elections, stressing that their continued support would ensure the sustainability of such people-centered programs.

2025-09-19

“NOT SUPPORTING NRM IS VERY RISKY” - PRESIDENT MUSEVENI TELLS BUGANDA NRM CADRES

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has applauded members of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) in the Buganda region who lost in the recently concluded party primaries for their decision to rally behind those who emerged as flag bearers. Speaking on Wednesday, September 17, at State House Entebbe, the President, who doubles as the NRM National Chairman, hailed the move as a demonstration of political maturity and commitment to unity within the party ahead of the 2026 general elections. “I want to congratulate you, and I can see the spirit of the National Resistance Army (NRA) is coming back. Go back and support the flag bearers,” the President said, commending the losing candidates for placing the party above personal ambition. President Museveni noted that the NRM’s performance in Buganda has historically suffered due to divisions. “You hear that the NRM MPs in Buganda have been 31 out of 105, but in about 29 constituencies, the NRM had won by majority, but they divided the vote. If you had not divided your votes, the NRM would have had 60 seats instead of 31,” he observed. The meeting was attended by NRM cadres from the Buganda region, many of whom had lost in the primaries, especially at the constituency level, but had unanimously agreed to support their victorious counterparts. Reminder about Uganda’s political history: President Museveni reminded the gathering of the dangers posed when political actors fail to unite around a common vision. He drew parallels with Uganda’s troubled political past, cautioning against repeating the mistakes of earlier parties. “Not supporting NRM is very risky; the country can be in total chaos, because if you have got people who don’t see that Uganda should be one, suppose they are the ones in charge of the country. What will happen?” H.E. Museveni asked. He revisited the events following the 1980 elections, when divisions between the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and Democratic Party (DP) set the stage for armed conflict. “When we came, we tried to persuade them to go back to the message of unity under the Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF). They didn’t agree, and they tried to bring back DP and UPC. If they had agreed, there would have been no war from 1981 to 1986,” President Museveni recalled. The President also invoked the 1961 elections, when the Kabaka Yekka (KY) movement clashed with the Democratic Party. “Mengo said that they should boycott the election of 1961; those of the Democratic Party decided to go ahead and register themselves to participate. Those of Kabaka Yekka got annoyed and resolved to cut down on their coffee. That’s what happened in 1961,” he said, drawing a link to more recent violence, such as the killings in Masaka following the 2021 elections, arguing that the same divisive spirit has periodically resurfaced. According to President Museveni, the first obligation of political actors should be to safeguard stability, without which development cannot be sustained. He argued that supporting the NRM is not just about political allegiance but also about ensuring peace, growth, and socio-economic transformation. “Supporting NRM is first of all for stability, but also secondly, for the future, because you can see the factories are now coming. The whole of Matugga is factories, Kawempe factories, in Namanve, they are producing,” President Museveni said, noting that Uganda’s growing industrial base depends on wider markets. “Where are we selling these products? We are not selling them in Uganda. We are selling them in East Africa, South Sudan, and Congo,” he explained, stressing the importance of NRM’s ideological pillars: patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation, and democracy. “It is politics of aims, not politics of jobs, not politics of groups,” President Museveni said, urging cadres to avoid politics of personal gain. Warning against politics without ideology: The President underscored the dangers of engaging in politics without a clear ideological foundation, terming it “a big danger,” reminding the audience that even the restoration of traditional leaders was undertaken with clarity of purpose. “We told everybody, yes, we are restoring the cultural institutions, but keep out of politics. No powers of administration, no powers of legislation, because these are with the people. Everything is in writing. There’s nothing we say or do that is not deliberate,” he emphasized, urging the cadres to always be guided by the NRM’s foundational aims. “If you are really clear about them, these issues you are talking about, like fighting for positions, cannot be a serious point, because you can sit down and discuss and choose who is fit to lead amongst you,” he said. President Museveni likened politics to medical practice, stressing that it must involve identifying problems and prescribing solutions. He reflected on the struggle against Idi Amin, noting that it was not merely about his brutality but also about a lack of ideological direction. “When we started fighting Idi Amin, some people said we started fighting him because he killed people. I didn’t know that Amin would kill people because even if Amin had not killed people, we would have fought him because he didn’t know what he was doing,” he said. He tied this back to NRM’s long-standing goals of patriotism, Pan-Africanism, East African unity, and socio-economic transformation. “If you go to South Africa now, it is full of Ugandans. I hear there are 1 million Ugandans there. They don’t even know what role Uganda played,” President Museveni noted. NRM cadres pledged support: On behalf of the NRM Central Executive Committee (CEC) and cadres in Buganda, the party’s Vice National Chairperson for the region, Hon. Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo, thanked President Museveni for what he described as an “ideological lecture.” “The elections of 2021 didn’t go well in Buganda, but come 2026, we are more than determined to win highly. What we are asking for is your time whenever we ask for advice. We understand that Buganda is the highest beneficiary of development in this country,” Hon. Kasolo said. He assured the President that Buganda cadres now have the answers to the challenges that previously weakened NRM’s support in the region. “We pledge that we shall bring back this team after we have won the election,” he said. The meeting drew several senior government officials and party leaders. Among them were Attorney General Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka, who is also patron of the “Buganda on Museveni” campaign initiative; NRM Deputy Secretary General Rt. Hon. Rose Namayanja-Nsereko; Buvuma County MP; Hon. Migadde Ndugwa; Gomba District Woman MP; Hon. Sylvia Nayebare; Minister of Energy; Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa, and Lwengo District Woman MP Hon. Cissy Namujju.

2025-09-19