President Museveni Advocates for Village Boreholes to Tackle Water Shortages for Farmers

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has put forward a solution to the water scarcity issue affecting farmers by suggesting the implementation of boreholes in each village. This initiative aims to address the concerns raised by farmers participating in the Parish Development Model (PDM) regarding the insufficient water supply for their poultry, livestock, and other agricultural activities.

During his interactions with journalists from Greater Mukono, President Museveni emphasized the importance of ensuring a reliable water source for PDM enterprises like poultry and livestock. The President highlighted that water scarcity has been a recurring challenge voiced by many PDM beneficiaries during his wealth creation tours across the country.

President Museveni elaborated on the PDM, designed for small-scale farmers with less than four acres of land, promoting seven high-yielding agricultural activities. These activities include cultivating coffee, fruits, pasture for zero-grazing animals, and food crops for household consumption. Moreover, the President encouraged the adoption of backyard poultry, piggery (excluding Muslims), and fish farming near wetlands. He also mentioned the potential addition of palm oil trees, cocoa, and avocado to the recommended activities.

To address the surge in cattle and poultry theft cases, President Museveni announced plans to utilize security surveillance cameras and digital number plates to track stolen vehicles and motorcycles. He urged communities to establish voluntary village security teams for night patrols to combat theft and mob justice incidents effectively.

In response to reports of beneficiaries receiving inadequate funds below the stipulated UGX 1 million, President Museveni assured that top-up payments would be made. He warned against misappropriation of PDM funds, stating that officials involved in theft would face legal consequences.

The Parish Development Model, introduced in February 2022, is a crucial poverty-alleviation strategy by the government, focusing on transitioning subsistence households into the money economy. President Museveni also addressed the importance of media coverage of government programs, emphasizing that media houses failing to fulfill the requirement of providing free airtime to discuss wealth creation initiatives might face operational restrictions.