Museveni outlines government plans for next five years
President Museveni acknowledges supporters during NRM victory celebrations in Mbarara District at the weekend. Photo by Colleb Mugume
Mbarara- President Museveni has said his government will in the next five years focus on changing the mindset of Ugandans to prioritise income generation and food security.
He was speaking during the presidential election victory celebrations organised by his supporters at Boma Grounds in Mbarara Town at the weekend.
Mr Museveni said majority Ugandans produce for home consumption which the government wants to change.
“Now that we have a good foundation for our economy, our focus will be to educate our people to not only work for food and appeasing in-laws but also for both food and income security,” he said.
The President advised those with small pieces of land to rear improved cattle breeds instead of keeping local ones whose milk production is low.
Mr Museveni said those grumbling about youth unemployment should know that attaining education is itself a success.
“I think people saying we have neglected the youth are either jealous or absent-minded,” he said.
“For youth, we have reached 50 per cent by educating them. What is now remaining is getting them employment and which is going to be our major focus, to support and give them a foundation to employ themselves.”
Mbarara lauded
The President thanked the people of Mbarara for enduring what he called the tides of lies propagated by the Opposition and voting him during the recently concluded presidential election.
In Mbarara District, Mr Museveni polled 114,719 votes while his closest rival, Dr Kizza Besigye, garnered 45,496.
Mr Amama Mbabazi got 638, Dr Abed Bwanika 266 and Prof Venansius Baryamureeba 253. Maj Gen Benon Biraaro got 197, Mr Joseph Mabirizi 136 and Mr Maureen Kyalya 144 votes.
Mr Museveni also urged NRM leaders to help him in fighting corruption, adding that he was confident of winning the war against thieves in government whom he described as rats.
“The rats are everywhere, there are those in Kampala and those outside Kampala, but me in Kampala will not manage to hunt for rats in Rwampara (constituency) and Rwanyamahembe (sub-county-all Mbarara) I need cadres to hunt the rats here and then you leave those in Kampala to me,” said Mr Museveni.
“I have fought and won big wars that involve bullets, how can I fail to win wars against rats that do not require bullets.”
The function, which was spearheaded by NRM Entrepreneurs League chairman Robert Mwesigwa Rukaari, saw people treated to entertainment by artistes and comedians.
