President Yoweri Museveni appealed to the people of West Nile to maintain peace and unity in the region, saying their support has led to a growing healthy population and enabled government to implement development programmes. “Am glad that NRM is able to maintain peace supported by you people. The population of Uganda has gone up. I urge you to support and maintain this peace,” he said.
The President who is on a four-day working visit to promote the wealth creation campaign in the West Nile region and Northern Uganda was addressing a mammoth rally at Celecele West Village Grounds in Moyo Municipality. The President said while government has ensured that there is development including developed road infrastructure, electricity, piped water, schools and health centers, development does not belong to an individual. “If there is a tarmac road, you can’t take a mattress at night and sleep on the road and say there is development, let me enjoy it. In order for us to be benefit, we must add wealth. Wealth is in your homes. If you got cows, chicken, fruit garden, plantation of trees that is wealth. If you have a house for renting, a shop or boda boda to get money, that is wealth,” he said.
The President told the people of Moyo that when government works on development and people don’t work on wealth ‘you all are limping’. “You can’t walk properly. There is a tarmac road but people are poor in the houses next to tarmac and electricity that you can’t put in the house because there is no money to pay for it. Wealth Creation is very crucial for food security and incomes. I want projects in each home dedicated to cash. Each home must have a cash project,” he said. He called on the people of West Nile to exploit fish farming along the river valley, diary cows, poultry and fruit farming to boost their incomes.
On the issue of services, President Museveni called for an audit of sectors such as health, education, transport, banking etc to ensure proper service delivery. He called on parents to ensure that their children attain proper skills for job creation. “Children are studying English, French, literature! Which of those courses will enable them to get jobs once they finish? If you study Latin and you pass very highly, the question is who wants to use Latin? Even in Church these days they no longer use Latin. That used to be in 1960s but now they are using local languages,” he said.
The President said children must study skills courses that can get them jobs including professional courses such as book keeping, auditing, metal fabrication, carpentry, ICT, nursing or midwifery. “For example, I cant deliver a woman, I used to deliver cows, but a woman… I run away. You need a skilled nurse,” he said. The President said government intends to have a technical school per constituency and urged parents and teachers to guide their children on their career choices.
On Hepatitis B, President Museveni cautioned the people of Moyo against irresponsible behavior that can help fuel the epidemic and also called for massive adult vaccination and sensitization.
The President later contributed Shs 10million to the SACCO of civil servants and another 10 million to the SACCO of Boda bodas.
The LCV chairperson Jimmy Vukoni Okudi in their memorandum called for the remarking of the border with South Sudan, saying it has become a source of conflict. He also called on government to ensure that benefits of veterans are paid expeditiously.
The LC1 Chairperson for Celecele West Village in Moyo Municipality Tarapkwe Sarah Rose thanked the President for his good governance and for meeting the people of Moyo.
“Your achievements are great and Ugandans have benefited a lot. Thank you for your brilliant ideas and plans. We northerners have got peace and unity. We are now brothers and sisters. Your intentions to bring unity and peace with our neighbouring countries and people of Africa is great. I wish you become young again,” she said.