In a bid to showcase the impact of his long-standing wealth creation drive, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni today invited all cabinet ministers, the Chief Justice, NRM CEC members, and various other leaders to Gomba for an extensive field trip. The visit aimed to observe firsthand the progress of farmers who have benefited from the wealth creation initiatives launched by the President many years ago, with a mission to eradicate poverty on a house-to-house basis.
During the visit, the delegation stopped at the farm of Lubega Patrick, a model farmer managing 4.5 acres of land. Lubega’s farm is a testament to the success of the initiative, featuring 300 banana suckers and a cow. He reported earning 36 million shillings annually from coffee and producing 200 sacks of matooke per month, which provides a substantial income. Additionally, Lubega obtains 10 liters of milk daily from his cow. Despite an annual expenditure of 12.5 million shillings, he maintains profitability and provides permanent employment to four workers.
The field trip also included a visit to Yusuf Ssuuna’s farm in Lutunku A, Kyabi Parish, Kawanda Sub County, Ssembabule District. Yusuf owns five acres of land dedicated to coffee farming. He shared how the coffee seedlings provided by the President had significantly improved his financial stability. “This coffee has helped me get a good amount of money that has sustained me,” Yusuf said, emphasizing the milestone achieved with the President’s support.
The field trip was climaxed with an engagement session at Kisozi Primary School, where numerous farmers, especially beneficiaries of the wealth creation program, shared their testimonies. Among them was Fabian from Gomba, who transitioned from pineapple to coffee farming after the President’s visit. Fabian now manages 100 acres of coffee and raises some cows.
Another testimony came from Emmanuel, a cattle keeper of Friesian and Ankole cows. He owns 200 Friesian cows, selling 400 liters of milk in good seasons and 300 liters in bad seasons. He expressed his gratitude for the President’s unwavering commitment to wealth creation. “You start something and see it through, and we are immensely happy for that,” Emmanuel said.
In a notable testimony, Sizibeera shared how the President’s initiatives transformed his livelihood. “When you found us, we were in a very terrible situation . Since the President brought visitors, we’ve been taken all around Uganda, witnessing numerous developments. We learned three valuable things: goats from NAADS, coffee, and dairy cows. Personally, I now produce 800 liters of milk daily. Laziness has no place; we must learn from the President if we aim for prosperity. We’re grateful for the President’s education; despite our illiteracy, we’ve become prosperous,” Sizibeera stated, highlighting that he generates 22 million shillings from his ten acres of coffee.
The President highlighted the importance of hard work, saving, and forming Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs) for sustained government support. He reminded the congregation that “there is no free money; government assistance comes when you are organized in SACCOs.”
Addressing the gathering, President Museveni shared his vision: “Around the world, it’s often said that people shouldn’t be the same—some should be poor while others are rich. I said NO to that. I decided that we should create opportunities for everyone to become prosperous.”
Reflecting on Uganda’s history, he added, “In the past, people were pastoralists, moving from one place to another and farming only for subsistence. We said that cattle keepers can settle down and normalize their livelihoods. Unfortunately, Amin came in and disrupted our progress, leading us to fight until 1986. When we came into power in 1986, we found that cattle keepers had settled down, but they hadn’t yet adapted to farming for income.”
Highlighting the challenges faced during colonial times, the President remarked, “People were involved in many activities, but the money they earned wasn’t sufficient. Our people in West Nile were farming tobacco, but the income was inadequate. The same issues were present in cotton and sugarcane farming in Busoga. To earn substantial money from these crops, one needs a lot of land; farming on just one or two acres won’t lift you out of poverty.”
Discussing the transformative impact of dairy farming, Museveni noted, “Eventually, we realized that dairy farming was the savior for the cattle corridor. Some believed they could raise animals for beef, and while ranching is good, it requires a vast amount of land. In 1989, people started following our advice, and by 1995, the message had spread to Nyabushozi.”
The President further elaborated on his nationwide efforts: “Seeing the success, I decided to tour the country and spread the word further. We even started NAADS, but people weren’t fully grasping the concept. When I began the campaign for dairy farming, I focused on teaching the people, especially since most of them are farmers.”
President Museveni concluded by emphasizing a sustainable farming model: “On the four-acre model, you can rear pigs, cows, and engage in fish farming.”
The visit provided a powerful reminder of the significant strides made in the fight against poverty and highlighted the critical role of organised, community-driven agricultural initiatives in transforming lives across Uganda.
