2 October 2007
Lango — President Yoweri Museveni has said the government will empower people to fight poverty by providing them with low-rate interest loans and agricultural implements, and not handouts of food and money.
The President was meeting political leaders from Lango sub-region which includes the districts of Lira, Apac, Amolatar, Dokolo and Oyam on Saturday.
Mr Museveni called on leaders to sensitise residents to stand on their own. He warned government officers who misuse public money, adding that "those who have misused government money are similar to a person who has eaten a cow that has died of anthrax" because it leads to death. He said was in the region to check on the progress of government projects and also present to the leaders, the 14-point programme to rehabilitate northern Uganda.
Mr Museveni, who said a lot of money had been sent to the region but that there is very little to show for it, revealed that the government is planning to make Northern Uganda an industrial centre to create jobs for people to earn better pay and also increase internal and external markets for people's produce. He called on local leaders to sensitise people to support the venture.
He criticised selfish politicians who have been confusing people not to accept investors in the area, noting that such people are enemies of the region. He cited the idea of a sugar factory in Amuru, which was sabotaged. He, however, assured the people that the factory would be built. President Museveni urged them to consolidate the peace that has returned to the region and to ensure that development picks up.
He called on the young people to avoid catching HIV/Aids by shunning promiscuity. He advised those that are already infected to strive to live positively, seek medical treatment and avoid alcohol. The President also called on mothers who are infected with HIV/Aids to seek the "prevention of mother to child transmission programme" to ensure that they give birth to healthy babies.
Mr Museveni expressed sympathy over the damage caused by floods where people have lost crops, food, household property and even life. He, however, said "so far, we are lucky because the floods are in river banks only."
He assured the people that the problem would be handled effectively.
Housing, Lands and Urban Development Minister Omara Atubo commended the President for responding to the disasters caused by floods in northern Uganda.
He said Shs.20 billion had been set aside to deal with the disaster.
Earlier, President Museveni visited Acan Pe Kumu Women's Group where women rear chicken for eggs and also grow oranges.
The project, which is supported by the National Agricultural Advisory Services (Naads), was recommended as pilot programme for other farmers to learn from because of its success.
The President advised Naads to assist and give them more seedlings. He donated Shs1 million to the group to buy bicycles for transporting chicken feeds.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2007 The Monitor. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
