President Yoweri Museveni has said that a special package of economic activities will be promoted in urban areas that are much different from those in rural areas in the new Wealth Creation Campaign that aims at getting rid of poverty from the population.
The President made the revelation while addressing a public rally at Rukungiri Municipality ground in Rukungiri district yesterday as he concluded his tour of Kigezi Sub-Region.
Mr. Museveni said that because urban areas have limited land and space for agriculture, it calls for a special approach focused at peri-urban agriculture with emphasis on crops that are both high yielding and of high value that can at the same time grow on a small land holding.
The President further said that since the majority of the urban population have either attained some formal education or have skills, there is need to avail funds to promote and support people involved In activities such as carpentry, metal works, handicrafts, welding, weaving and information and communication technology, among others.
He further noted that in urban areas, unlike the rural settings, emphasis will be put on micro-credit support targeting the youth and women since many of the urban poor are in activities such as trading, transport and others who area in the service sector.
He on the same occasion handed over a cheque worth Shs. 268 million for the youth livelihood programme for Rukungiri district that was received by the district Chief Administrative officer and another cheque worth Shs. 100 million for the same programme for Rukungiri Municipality alone that was handed to the Municpal Town Clerk.
The President instructed them to ensure that the funds reach the intended beneficiaries and proper accountability should be done.
He used the occasion to caution the youth, especially those living in towns, about the danger posed by the HIV/AIDS pandemic saying that the disease disease has no known cure.
“Your life is precious and priceless. Please guard it jealously. Don’t be lied and fooled by your peers. There is time for everything; don’t be a student and a Salongo or Nalongo,” he told the youth.
Earlier, the President visited Mr. Mwesigye Lauben, an apple farmer in Nyarushanje in Rubabo County, who earns over Shs. 100 million from his ten acres of apples. He commended him for being a good model farmer and asked others to emulate him.
He later commissioned Rukungiri Dairy Farmers’ Cooperative Union in Rubabo Town.