The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Presidential Candidate, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has encouraged residents of Budaka District to embrace fish farming and commercial agriculture as key avenues to create household wealth and fight poverty.
Speaking during his first campaign rally of the day in Budaka on Thursday, President Museveni said fish farming was one of the most profitable ventures Ugandans could adopt, especially in areas endowed with swamps and water resources like Bukedi.
“Me, I get much more from fish farming millions. I can get Shs150 million net, Shs140 million after removing the cost. But others are getting about 66 million. Find out why I’m getting much more than they are getting,” Museveni said.
“So you people here in Bukedi, where there are a lot of swamps, you can do fish farming. You can do coffee on the dry lands. You can do fruits. You can look after cows,” he added.
The NRM flagbearer said the four-acre model he introduced some years ago remains the cornerstone of Uganda’s household income strategy, combining coffee, fruits, dairy, and fish farming.
He urged parish leaders to use the Parish Development Model (PDM) to help every household produce for both the “stomach and the pocket.”
Museveni also highlighted the progress achieved under the NRM government in Budaka and the greater Bukedi region, citing roads, electricity, and social services as tangible indicators of development.
“A lot has been done in the Budaka area. We did this road very early in our government and we have repaired it again. We have added the one of Tirinyi–Pallisa–Kumi,” he said.
“On electricity, work has also been done; the telephones are here, and water projects are ongoing. On health and education, our plan is to have one government primary school per parish and one government secondary school per sub-county,” he explained.
The President noted that Budaka now has 59 primary schools, several secondary schools, and multiple health centers, though he directed that remaining Health Centre IIs be upgraded to Health Centre IIIs to improve service delivery.
He further reminded the residents that development and wealth creation are complementary pillars of transformation.
“You can have development in an area—roads and so on—and still have poverty. What goes into your house is wealth creation, and that is what Obugaga is about,” he emphasized.
Among salutes Museveni for peace and development
Speaker of Parliament and NRM Second National Vice Chairperson (Female), Anita Among, thanked President Museveni for delivering peace and development to Bukedi and the entire country.
“Because of the rebels, the Lakwenas, people used to sleep in fear. But now the youth you see here sleep in their houses and are in total peace. We want to thank you for the peace you have brought to this country,” Among said.
“We also thank you for the development you brought here. When the road had just been constructed, people used to not understand what it was meant for they would dry cassava and millet on it. Now we know its value,” she added.
Among commended the government for improving health and education facilities in Budaka and assured Museveni of overwhelming support from Bukedi.
“Your Excellency, we are your very loyal cadres. We are ready to move with you throughout the country to look for votes and deliver over 80% support. We all belong to Uganda and love you because you believe in politics of ideology, not interest,” she said.