I’m going to fulfil all my outstanding pledges – Museveni

BUYENDE. President Museveni on Saturday assured the people of Buyende District that he is going to fulfil all the ‘outstanding and perennial pledges’ he made to them.

Without putting a timeline to when he hopes to have done so, Mr Museveni who was a chief guest at victory celebrations for Buyende Woman Member of Parliament (MP), Veronica Babirye Kadogo, said; “Thank you for appreciating what our government has so far done and now it is my duty to make good of my pledges.”

Adding; “Legislators should now focus on advocating for service delivery for their people and reminding government of its pledges and priority areas while mobilizing the voters to support and benefit from government programs.”

Some of the pledges the President purportedly made are; the ferry and tarmacking of the Kamuli-Bukungu Road. He said these will open the area to business, social and economic activities and urged the locals to prepare to make the best use of them.

He further asked the people to take on household income-generating projects, child education and embrace government programs.

He conceded that the Bukungu-Kamuli Road and ferry are crucial infrastructures that will not only connect Teso, Lango and Busoga, but also open up trade.

On education, Mr Museveni commended Buyende for its improvement in the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) performance, calling for enforcement in children enrolment, retention and completion so as to benefit from government’s Universal Education Program.

The President clarified that parents should feed their children and those who can’t afford should take their children to Universal Education Schools which he insisted should not charge fees, while the capable ones can pay in private schools or ‘big government schools’.

“Universal Education Schools should not charge fees and parents must provide a meal for their children, called ‘entanda’. Government has provided UPE and USE for poor parents and here it is free. Those who can afford can take their children to other government schools and private schools where they pay but no child should be withdrawn from school,” he emphasized.

On the Marine Police’s patrol on Lake Kyoga waters, Mr Museveni said he brought in the Marine Forces because the people had compromised the fisheries enforcement personnel and pledged to ‘hold an expert meeting’ among fishing communities, the fisheries department and government to protect the Lake and allow the fish to grow.

“Soldiers are trained to fight, so don’t blame them because I brought them in to fight bad and illegal fishing practices and protect our fish and waters. But since the situation has improved, we need to talk with you who are experts and dependents on fishing so that you help in protecting your livelihood through good fishing practices and expose those with illegal (fishing) gear,” Mr Museveni said.

President Museveni then launched the Women and Youth Development Initiative Cottage Industry (Vonita Cosmetics), a water project, and gave out 8 tri-cycles to disabled persons and 200 bicycles to the women.

In attendance was Speaker Rebecca Kadaga, NRM Chief Whip, Ruth Nakabirwa and a host of Ministers and MPs.

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