President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has cautioned leaders and residents of Kumi District against continuously demanding for new administrative units, tarmacked roads, and town councils, urging them instead to focus their energies on wealth creation as the foundation for sustainable development.
Addressing thousands of supporters at Kumi Wiggins SS grounds on his ongoing campaign trail in Teso Sub-region, the President said many Ugandans have misunderstood the concept of development, often equating it with government projects like tarmac roads, new districts, and town councils, while ignoring personal wealth creation at household level.
“You hear people saying, we want a new district, we want a new town council, we want tarmac roads. But I ask you: at night, do you sleep in the tarmac?” Museveni remarked, drawing laughter from the crowd.
“The problem is that when you go back home, the poverty you left in the morning will be waiting for you and it will say, welcome back, we are still here. The children have no sugar, no meat, no paraffin or electricity, and no clothes. That is where the real problem is.”
Museveni explained that from the time of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) struggle in the 1960s, the Party made a clear distinction between development and wealth.
While development such as roads, schools, and hospitals is a collective responsibility of government, wealth is a personal responsibility for every household.
“Development is ours, the tarmac is ours, but wealth or poverty are yours. Therefore, the NRM insists on wealth creation. That is why we are emphasizing the Parish Development Model (PDM),” he said.
Quoting the biblical verse from Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you,” Museveni said the NRM is teaching Ugandans to seek wealth first, assuring that once households become economically productive, other aspects of development naturally follow.
He reminded the people of Kumi that the government has over the years introduced several wealth creation initiatives, from Entandikwa, Bonna Bagaggawale, Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), Emyooga to the current Parish Development Model (PDM), all aimed at enabling Ugandans to generate household income.
“Talk of development without wealth creation is meaningless. Development comes from money, and money comes from taxes. But if you are poor, you can’t buy anything that is taxed. You won’t be contributing to national revenue. Therefore, if the household remains poor, even government will struggle to bring development,” he emphasized.
The President pledged that the government will continue injecting funds to strengthen wealth creation programs, with new funding windows planned for different community categories.
“We shall add 15 million shillings for leaders to borrow and invest. We shall also create funds for religious institutions in the dioceses, cultural leaders, and fishing communities whose needs are beyond the PDM package. We are also considering a special fund for university graduates who have not yet secured employment after two years,” he said.
On education, Museveni reiterated his firm belief in free and quality education for all, recalling how his government introduced Universal Primary Education (UPE) in 1996.
He, however, expressed concern that some leaders and head teachers have mismanaged the policy, frustrating its objectives.
“I am a strong believer in free education, and that is why I brought it in 1996. But some people began to mess it up. That is why I introduced the Presidential Skilling Hubs to equip our young people with hands-on skills so that they can earn a living,” he said.
The President’s remarks followed an earlier request by the Kumi District NRM Chairperson, Hon. Christine Amongin Aporu, who had appealed to government to grant Kumi new administrative units, including the creation of Kanyum District, Mukongoro County, and Atutur Town Council.
While acknowledging her concerns, Museveni advised that administrative expansion should not take precedence over wealth creation.
Nevertheless, the President announced a series of government commitments for Kumi District to improve service delivery.
He revealed that electricity extension will soon cover ten more sub-counties that are still off the national grid. Out of Kumi’s 18 sub-counties, only eight currently have access to power.
Museveni also announced that government will upgrade Kadami, Kakures, Ogooma, Agurut, Osera, and Akide Health Centre IIs to Health Centre IIIs.
In addition, new health facilities will be built in Kanapa, Mukongoro, and Kanyum to improve access to primary healthcare.
As Museveni concluded his address, he urged voters to embrace NRM’s wealth creation agenda as the surest way to eradicate poverty and sustain national development.
“The government will bring development, but the fight against poverty is personal. If every household becomes rich, then Uganda will be rich,” he said to a thunderous applause.
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