Educated youth urged to join armed forces Army income generation programme to be nationalised - President Museveni President Yoweri Museveni has said he will spread the veterans income generation programme currently being implemented by army officers nationally to ensure that more Ugandans benefit directly from government efforts to fight poverty at the household level and minimise the corruption and theft dogged by farmers bodies such as NAADS. Speaking at this years 25th Heroes Day Anniversary celebrations held at Bukalamuli Catholic Parish grounds in Kikandwa Sub-county in Mityana District, the President urged young graduates to join armed forces and drive the countrys ideology to maintain peace and prosperity, calling on them to live responsible lives and avoid HIV/AIDs. Using soldiers in the income generation campaign is going to be spread nationally to ensure that poverty alleviation is handled more strictly in all constituencies including those that have arguments among tribes. The army will be working alongside other civil servants to promote food security and income generation, he said. The President said he will pool all the money that has been disappearing under NAADS, Microfinance, NUSAF, PRDP etc and re-channell it to direct procurement of materials and implements to improve modern agro production. He urged farmers to adopt the crop irrigation method during drought to mitigate its effects on agriculture. We may not reach each individual but we shall reach majority of the people. We are targeting seven million households with five people per house. I have noticed that you have tried to grow more food but we should do much more, he said. The President told thousands of Ugandans who thronged the celebration grounds that after the war, his government embarked on reviving the economy which was in shambles, rebuilding, developing and stabilising the economy which enabled the country earn some money for development. After the war, our first job was to revive the economy. When you find a person who has fainted, the first thing you do is resuscitate them. After reviving, we rebuild, developed new infrastructure and maintained stability. We ensured there was peace and dymysified the gun and fought bandits. Somebody who is not a liar or an enemy can clearly see what this government has done. When the economy improved, we got some money and invested in UPE because we wanted the children of the poor to access free education. Before UPE there were 2.5million chidren enrolled in Primary school, after UPE we had 8.8million children enrollment, he said. The President said he would convene a retreat for all veterans later in the year and directed that a monument be built in Dwaniro in memory of unmarked war heroes. He also directed the Minister of Energy Irene Muloni to ensure that each trading centre with more than 10 - 20 commercial buildings be connected to power to encourage cottage industries. The celebrations were preceded by ceremonies by Officers and Men of the UPDF at Kikandwa sub-county headquarters that were presided over by the Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi. The ceremonies which had a three gun salute and a mourners parade at the freedom fighters monument was followed by the laying of the wreath by the Vice President, the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga, Judge Nshimye, Minister for the Presidency Frank Tumwebaze, CDF Gen. Katumba Wamala and the IGP Gen. Kale Kaihura. At the main celebrations the chairman of the veterans Hajji Ssendujja hailed the UPDF, Police and security agencies for providing maximum security to pilgrims and worshipers during the martyrs day celebrations in Namugongo and said it showed how determined they were in ensuring the safety of Ugandans amid high security risks. He commended the President for his patience and negotiation skills and thanked him for mobilising Ugandans in the fight against HIV AIDS by re-energising the campaign through public screening. We respect your skills with which you negotiate with Obama and Putin and still talk to ordinary people like us for the sake of peace and development for our country, he said. Over 767 Ugandans were awarded with various medals that will be awarded at various ceremonies. 368 people recieved medals during this years Heroes day with 182 getting Nalubale medals, 121 Golden Jubilee Medals and 65 Luwero Medals. The ceremony was attended by various high ranking government officials inclduing the Prime Minister Hon. Amama Mbabazi and the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanya.
Posted on: Tue, 10 Jun 2014 05:47:54 +0000
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