The programme supports informal sector businesses in mechanical, metal fabrication and welding, electrical, woodwork and carpentry, art and design, leatherworks, textile and tailoring, plumbing and construction, agro-processing and ICT among others through the Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development.
The Second Cohort which has been launched at Kamuli District Headquarters is comprised of 190 groups with a total membership of 3,228 members drawn from 9 districts including; Kamuli, Jinja, Kaliro, Iganga, Mayuge et al.
These received tailoring machines, ovens, desktop computers among others to create more employment opportunities and improve household incomes among youths and women in the sub-region.
“I have been doing this work of getting Ugandans out of sleeping since the early 60s. I started from our place in secondary school. That time all people did not know how to make money, they were only working for the stomach. When you hear people talking about poverty, the cause is working only for the stomach. Others who try to work for money do it without a calculation (Ekibalo). I want us to fight this war in phases,” President Museveni said.
President Museveni urged Ugandans especially the Jua-Kali groups across the country to be patient and wait for their turn because the programme will be rolled out countrywide but he appealed to all people with land to engage in money-making enterprises such as commercial agriculture.
He further explained the four sectors of money that include; Commercial Agriculture, Industries (small and big) and adding value to what is produced, services like hotels, transports etc. and ICT.
Government of Uganda is prioritizing infrastructure development and money-making sectors which have seen an increase in production which has indeed led to a surplus of sugar, coffee, milk, bananas et al.
The President congratulated the National Resistance Movement – NRM fraternity in Busoga and Uganda in general for turning up in big numbers in the just concluded primaries. He condemned the violence, and intimidation of voters by some politicians that were seen in some parts of the country emphasizing that nobody should go back to that primitive politics of beating up people and intimidating others.
He also responded to Speaker Rt Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga’s reminder of the un-tarmacked roads in the region, that they have already agreed with Unra Uganda National Road Authority to work on the Bukungu-Kamuli-Mbulamuti to Buyende road.
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