President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has asked residents in Kigezi Sub region to abandon subsistence practices and fully embrace modern, commercial agriculture as the surest path to prosperity, job creation and national economic transformation.
Presiding over the 45th Tarehe Sita Anniversary celebrations at the former Kabale National Teachers College grounds in Kabale District on Friday, President Museveni said the area is exceptionally rich in natural resources and strategic opportunities, which can only be unlocked if people adopt government guidance, particularly in agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing.
He noted that Uganda’s economy is already on a positive trajectory, having attained lower-middle-income status, with a clear path toward upper-middle-income in the coming years. He highlighted Kigezi’s vast tourism potential, pointing to world-renowned attractions such as the mountain gorillas of Bwindi and Mgahinga. He emphasized that government investments in upgrading tourism roads and infrastructure are aimed at improving access and boosting tourism-driven incomes for local communities.
However, President Museveni expressed concern over continued low agricultural productivity caused by failure to use fertilizers and irrigation. He cited examples he observed along the way, where farmers were cultivating crops without modern inputs, calling it a missed opportunity. He stressed that irrigation systems already introduced in parts of the country demonstrate what is possible when farmers adopt the right methods.
Using banana production as a clear illustration, Museveni explained that each banana plant requires about 20 litres of water per day. In areas like Bushenyi, where irrigation and fertilizers are used, farmers harvest up to 53 tonnes per hectare. In contrast, nearby communities relying on rain-fed farming and no fertilizers harvest as little as five tonnes per hectare, nearly ten times less from the same land.
President Museveni noted that productivity gap must be addressed nationwide, including in Kigezi, by promoting irrigation, fertilizer use, and deliberate selection of high-value enterprises such as fruits, coffee, vegetables, dairy, poultry for eggs, and fish farming. According to the President, commercial agriculture allows farmers to earn good incomes even from small pieces of land.
Museveni further emphasized that agriculture must directly feed into manufacturing, especially agro-processing. He cited tea as an example, noting that recent price challenges were caused not by global market failure but by local issues such as poor agronomic practices and careless harvesting. With proper management, he said, tea and other crops still have strong markets.
He also pointed to emerging opportunities in crops like apples in suitable highland areas, alongside dairy farming, poultry, coffee, and fish farming, urging leaders to showcase practical examples to inspire communities.
He emphasized that Uganda’s economic foundation must rest on three pillars: modern agriculture supported by irrigation and fertilizers, tourism, and manufacturing. He added that growth in these sectors will naturally stimulate services such as education, health, and ICT, creating a balanced and sustainable economy.
CUE IN PRESIDENT MUSEVENI……ON THE MATTER……RR/ENG//
