APACH: There was excitement and ululations as hundreds of former members of opposition parties including the UPC member of Parliament for Kole county in Apach district, John Ogwang crossed over to NRM, in a move that President Yoweri Museveni who is also the NRM national chairman described as the right decision in supporting the proper management of Uganda affairs.

“I am happy to see Mr. Ogwang join the bus and I welcome members who have joined the Movement. You have made the right decision because it is only the Movement that can manage Uganda. I welcome your support,” Museveni told the jubilating crowd.

President Museveni who also announced that he will support the granting of Kole into a district status was addressing a public rally held at Kole County Cell in Ayer Sub-county, Kole County in Apac district where he also received over 1400 former members of opposition parties including MP Ogwang.

 “I am sorry for coming late. I had to conclude some discussions with some companies on petroleum the Movement government found for you. I was hearing about the district of Kole but I was not sure whether it would not be grabbed by some people. But when I saw the good dress of Ogwang, I said I will now support the granting of Kole a district status,” President Museveni told the cheering crowd.

Earlier, at a separate rally held at Aduku Primary school, Aduku sub-county, the president said government is intensifying the restocking exercise in Lango sub-region to enable it regain its animal population most of which was lost due to cattle rustling by the Karimojongs.

The President said that the Karimojong rustlers exploited the time when the UPDF was busy battling anti government rebel groups of Lakwena, LRA of Joseph Kony and negative elements in Sudan to terrorise their neighbours, the Langi inclusive, getting away with hundreds of their animals.

He said that although government attempted to restock the region, the programme was not completed, adding that under the PFA programme, the region will be restocked by targeting particular groups such as model farmers and the youth to fast track implementation.
He castigated liars who claimed that the animals in Lango were rustled by the NRM government.
“Come to my farm, if you find any zebu cow, take all of them. Lango animals were rustled by the Karimojong,” the President said.

He however assured the people that this will never happen again as the UPDF has developed adequate capacity to crash any form of terrorism and can guarantee the security of person and property of all Ugandans.

President Yoweri Museveni said the Masindi port – Apach – Lira- Kitgum road is due to be tarmac as government steps up its efforts to improve infrastructure to boost economic production and increase trade in the region and across the borders. He elaborated that the project to tarmac the road had delayed because there was no money and they were depending on donors who are sometimes not reliable.

“This has taken time because before there was no money and we were depending on donors. But donors are not reliable – they promise but don’t implement. Now government has got its own money and will do all the roads,” he said.

The President who is on a four day mobilization and popularization tour of governments’ Prosperity for All programme in Lango sub-region has been promoting income generation and calling for the provision of skills for creation of self employment through modern agriculture practices.

The programme implemented under NAADS is aimed at fighting household poverty through improved incomes earned from modern agro production practices and ensuring food security. Improving infrastructure like roads, electricity and schools in northern Uganda are some of the priority areas for government to ensure proper resettlement of the people here following years of civil war wedged by the LRA rebels.

He noted that while government sends funds to districts for development but the money is squandered with some given to relatives, resulting in the poor implementation of the program. He said he is due to experiment a programme of distributing ploughs, oxen and heifers to women’s’ groups in each parish in Lango sub-region to boost commercial agricultural production.

He said while government has and is still ensuring the improvement of access to basic socio-economic services including roads, schools, health centers and the provision of electricity, it is the responsibility of individual members to fight poverty from their homes.

The President said that while there are some rich people in Uganda, they are very few, thus the efforts by government to support each family and individual to get rich through exploiting the rich agricultural resources.

He said each year, Apach district alone gets over 31 billion shillings for economic development such as paying teachers salaries, developing the roads infrastructure etc, adding that apart from that, the district has received 3.1 over three years for the NAADS program alone., He also highlighted NUSAF and PRDP as some of the other programs that target development in the northern region

“When you talk about development in general say tarmac roads, do you sleep there or you sleep in your houses? That is why we are saying we must have wealth for all not just for a few starting from the household level. This can be achieved through modernizing agriculture to improve incomes,” he said.

The President had earlier visited one of the progressive model farmers Christopher Obach of Aduku sub-county who earns over 40 million and is involved in various projects including rearing goats, cows, pigs and bees.
He urged the people to improve their animal breeds and look after them in a modern way. He said government decided to select six households to implement what is taught under the NAADS programme and later empower and use them as models for other farmers to learn from.

He encouraged them to form SACCOs, adding that it was government policy to have a SACCO at every sub county to encourage the farmers to save and also access loans to improve their projects. He said that it is only through SACCOs that government can channel funds to help boost their enterprises.

The President was received by the area members of parliament Beatrice Lagada (Apach) Ebong David (Maruti) and John Ogwang (Kole). The function was also attended by former minister of Tourism Jovino Akaki and various farmers groups.

 

 

Story by Presidential Press Unit

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