Museveni asks Dokolo to give him land for investors

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Capital. The President asked for about four square miles of land and promised to get investors to build industries that will create jobs for the residents.
The President, who promised to continue supporting women empowerment programmes, reiterated his plea for Ugandans not to invade wetlands, saying Dokolo was doing well in this regard.

Dokolo. President Museveni has asked Dokolo District residents to give him at least four square miles of land so that he can allocate it to investors and create jobs.
Speaking at celebrations marking the 105th International Women Day in the district, Mr Museveni said he needed land for the investors to establish industries needed to create the jobs.
“I want people to give me three to four square miles of land so that when I get investors who want to build factories, I tell them that there is land in Dokolo,” the President said yesterday, singling out Lira District as an example where they have more than 40 factories operating.

It is not the first time Mr Museveni has asked for land from the people of northern Uganda. While campaigning for his fifth elective term of office in Acholi sub-region last year, Mr Museveni made the same plea in Nwoya District.
“Get me some big land, especially those areas where we chased [LRA leader Joseph] Kony so that I can build for you a city of factories,” Mr Museveni said while addressing his supporters at Anaka in Nwoya District.
Commenting on Hepatitis B, a viral disease that is ravaging northern Uganda and parts of Karamoja sub-region, Mr Museveni cautioned Ugandans not to engage in sexual activities, one of the leading transmission avenues of the disease, without testing for the disease first.

The virus spreads through contact with blood and body fluids of an infected person.
Last year, several youth in Karamoja failed to join military service after they were screened by the army medical team and found to have Hepatitis B.

Health minister, Dr Ruth Aceng, tasked by the President to explain what the ministry is doing to stop the spread of the disease, said they are carrying out vaccination in phases and it is a must for new born babies in hospitals.
She said the target is for the most hit areas since there is no enough manpower and other related costs.
Highlighting his agenda under Kisanja Hakuna Mchezo, Mr Museveni listed key issues for women empowerment as education, good healthcare and wealth, things his government is addressing.

To resonate with the day’s celebrations, Mr Museveni said his rebel outfit, the National Resistance Army (NRA) had zero discrimination of women and they recruited many and it is the reason women are taking up leadership positions in the army and other sectors of the economy.
This year, President Museveni’s government implemented the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP) run by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. The programme seeks to improve access to financial services for women and equipping them with skills for enterprise growth, value addition and marketing of their produce.
Close to 600 women groups from 19 selected districts have so far benefited from the Shs43 billion put in the programme. However, during the 2011 presidential campaigns, the President had promised to inject Shs234 billion in the Women Fund to assist women in all the districts of Uganda access affordable capital. Today, the programme only covers women between 18 and 65 years and any unpaid amounts after one year, attracts a service charge of 5 per cent.
Last year, the then minister for Gender, Mr Muruli Mukasa told Parliament that instead of the Shs234b which the President promised the women, the government could only afford Shs53b in the 2016/17 Budget. He said Shs3b was released to the ministry to kick-start the process and that the ministry of Finance was unable to provide Shs234billion because the government had other urgent areas of call.

The President, who promised to continue supporting women empowerment programmes, reiterated his plea for Ugandans not to invade wetlands, saying Dokolo was doing well in this regard. The country is currently experiencing unprecedented levels of environment degradation and as such, climate change effects like high temperatures, low rainfalls and outbreak of pests are a common occurrence.

“I therefore appeal to you not to imitate the bad manners of invading the wetlands so that when we want to irrigate, we can get water from the nearby swamps,” he said.

Addressing Dokolo Woman MP Cecilia Ogwal on Karimojongs who move to the district with their cattle that destroys farmers’ crops, Mr Museveni said: “That problem is temporary. The problem of Karamoja is water. It is not that water is not there, it rains but we have not put enough dams to keep water for a long time.”

Medal beneficiaries

Margaret Kakitahi
Yedidah Kizza Kabonesa Kintu
Margaret Kiwana
Alice Rhoda Atim
Mercy Mabuya Matende
Alice Drito
Dr Grace Cecilia Atim
Edith Keteete
Sylvia Tumuheirwe Alinaitwe
Zaria Aliza Ndifuna
Dr Rose Kaggwa
Filda Aceng Obote
Imat Ester Akar
Sophia Asiimwe
Angellina Atyam
Imat Peninah Omolo
Hellen Keller Alyek
Joyce Nasige Tila
Imat Victoria Odur (RIP)
Sr Conny Acar
Santa Bongonyinge
Justice Hellen Obura
Elizabeth Kyasiimire
Ruth Kizza Kombe
Joan Rwanjeru Murum
Florence Tumwesigye
Edna Baryaruha
Dr Jolly Kabirizi
Rev Sr Margaret Tusiime
Dr Gladys Kalema Zikusooka
Ruth Mirembe Sessanga
Susan Ajok
Turner Atuki
Mary Astles Senkatuka (RIP)
Pauline Kirasha
Violet Oder
Jane Frances Kagaayi
Alley Nyanzi
Madina Byakika
Milka Adiru
Rose Mary Komugisha
Justice Solomy Balungi Bossa
Rosemary Senabulya
Hajati Hawa Nakabugo Ssemakula
Dr Proscovia Nanyonga
SSP Rebecca Nandawula
SP Pauline Bangirana (rtd)
SP Doreen Atuhaire
ASP Alice Nightingale Nanyanzi (rtd)
IP Mary Nakibuka
AIP Hellen Agio (rtd)
AIP Ventus Oyuku
AIP Jacqueline Magara
AIP Florence Achede
Cpl Christine Akol
Stella Ahimbimwe
Topista Tibangana (rtd)
W/Sgt Amina Nabagesera