Museveni Urges Teso People to Focus on High-Value Enterprises for Long-Term Economic Growth
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on the people of Teso to strategically select high-value enterprises that will help them escape the cycle of poverty and promote long-term economic growth.
During his ongoing wealth creation assessment program in the Teso Sub-region, Museveni emphasized the importance of making informed and sustainable business choices that can generate substantial demand both locally and globally.
“We must carefully choose the right enterprises, or it’s like being one-eyed. If one eye goes, you’re blind,” Museveni said while addressing the people of Serere district. He warned that choosing the wrong business venture could have disastrous consequences, leading people deeper into poverty instead of lifting them out.
The president explained that for any enterprise to succeed, it must be based on products or services with significant demand—not just locally, but regionally and internationally. He urged the people of Teso to consider opportunities with vast market potential, such as coffee, fruits, dairy farming, poultry, piggery, and fish farming, which could become key pillars for wealth creation in the region.
“I cannot recommend an enterprise I know will not work because that would be dangerous, and God would not be happy with me. When I advise you, it is with God’s guidance. We must focus on high-demand enterprises, and coffee, fruits, dairy, and fish are prime examples,” Museveni stated.
Agriculture as a Path to Economic Transformation
The president also shared his belief in the transformative power of agriculture for Uganda’s economy. He specifically endorsed practices such as planting one acre of coffee, one acre of fruits, one acre for pasture to support dairy farming, and one acre for food crops to ensure family nutrition.
Additionally, Museveni encouraged households to consider raising poultry for eggs in small spaces and starting small-scale piggery operations, which could significantly boost family incomes. Fish farming was also recommended as a valuable enterprise, particularly along the peripheries of swamps, which could be developed into viable farming areas.
“Fish farming has immense potential, not just locally, but for export as well. If you can’t do all seven, at least focus on some of them,” Museveni advised.
Land Fragmentation and Its Challenges
In his address, President Museveni also acknowledged the challenges the region has faced, particularly land fragmentation. He noted that over time, the division of family land between generations has resulted in smaller and smaller plots, making it harder for future generations to sustain themselves through agriculture.
He highlighted that land inheritance has long been a problem in Uganda and urged the people to come together to find sustainable solutions.
“Land fragmentation is a huge problem. It is making our land less productive with every generation. If we do not solve this problem, how will future generations survive?” Museveni asked, stressing the importance of protecting land rights while ensuring land remains productive.
Museveni proposed that, like in some parts of the world, land inheritance should be organized to prevent physical fragmentation by passing on land through shares.
His administration, he added, is working to address these issues by providing solutions to secure land for future generations.
Cattle Restocking and Budget Issues
Meanwhile, Uganda’s Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Among, who welcomed the President to Serere, raised another key concern for the Teso region: the need for cattle restocking programs. Among, a native of Teso, highlighted the region’s deep reliance on cattle farming and emphasized the need for breeding centers to help restock the area with quality livestock.
“The people of Teso are primarily cattle keepers, and we do not have a single breeding center. This is a critical issue. We need breeding centers to help us restock the area. Cattle are at the heart of Teso’s economy, and we must focus on rebuilding our herds,” Among stressed.
She thanked President Museveni for his previous commitment to addressing the issue and assured the people that restocking programs would be included in the next financial year’s budget.
However, Among also raised concerns about budget cuts for compensation to war victims. She urged the president to restore the original allocation of 50 billion Ugandan shillings for this cause, as the reduced allocation of 30 billion shillings was insufficient to meet the needs of the war-affected population.
“Many people in Teso still bear the scars of the past, and they need compensation for their losses. The compensation program is crucial, and we request the full budget allocation be restored to help the people of Teso recover and prosper,” she said.
President Museveni’s Commitment
President Museveni listened attentively to the concerns raised by Speaker Among and assured the people of Teso that their issues would be addressed. He reiterated his commitment to improving the region’s infrastructure and ensuring that people have access to the resources necessary to build sustainable enterprises.
Museveni’s visit to Teso is part of his ongoing efforts to assess and encourage wealth creation across various regions of Uganda. Through these programs, he aims to empower Ugandans to take control of their economic futures by focusing on high-potential enterprises and addressing key challenges such as land fragmentation and insufficient access to quality livestock.
