“I’m least paid president but rich” – Museveni

President Yoweri Museveni has said despite being one of the least paid Presidents in Africa, he is a rich man because of what he earns from Agriculture. Museveni is considered one of the largest cattle keepers and traders in the country.

“Your President is one of the least paid on the continent. Although I earn little from your government, I’m a rich man from agriculture. When I tell you that commercial agriculture is wealth, am telling you what I know,” he said.
The President was referring to a report by the Africa Review that compiled and analyzed salaries of African leaders to try and see the relationship between those in power and the governed.
The highest paid leader is Paul Biya who reportedly earns US$610,000 while the least paid is Sierra Leone’s President who earns US$12,000. President Museveni’s salary was put at US$15,000.

The President made the remarks on Saturday as he kick-started his working tour to promote the Operation Wealth Creation campaign in Teso Region. The campaign is aimed at ensuring that households have at least one income-generating project to boost income and food security.
While addressing a rally at the Boma Grounds at the district headquarters in Bukedea district, the President urged the people of Teso to engage in modern agro production for them to be able to realize wealth adding the infrastructure development in place such as roads, electricity, schools and medical facilities among others is development but not individual wealth.

He urged the people of Bukedea to use peace and security ushered in by the NRM government to work and create wealth, saying that previously the region was full of insecurity caused by rebels because of the past bad governments.
"This peace and the development that you have must be taken advantage of to create wealth. With Peace and development, the future of this country is very bright. I appeal to each of you to engage in a wealth creation project,” he said.
He said that the NRM government is considering introducing skills development for unemployed graduates at government cost to address the problem of unemployment among the youth.

Before the rally, the President toured a progressive farmer Ms. Ikiring Deborah a teacher by Profession who rears poultry for eggs and earns Shs12m per year as profit. The president gave her four Fresian cows to boost her project. Later, the President also commissioned a class room block constructed at St Thereza Primary School, Okunguru by Government of Uganda with a loan from the World Bank. He urged students to remain health and guard their lives against the deadly HIV and AIDS.