On the economy, we have achieved the minimum economic recovery we set out to achieve in 1986, when we took over the Government. The people in Uganda remember the terrible shortages for essential goods such as sugar, soap, salt, paraffin, beverages, etc. Those problems have long been solved. Uganda’s GDP is now US$ 22 billion using exchange rate method compared to US$ 1.55 billion in 1986. By using the purchasing power parity (PPP) method, the GDP is now US$ 51.3 billion. The big growth is obvious to those whose eyes are not jaundiced by prejudice and envy. Kampala–Entebbe-Mukono-Matugga-Nansana-Buddo areas are making a conurbation. They are now almost linked by tens of thousands of new buildings ─ a far-cry from the 4,000 Indian properties the mafutamingis were fighting over during Amin’s time. Since 2006, a happy new phenomenon has emerged ─ Uganda’s ability to fund by itself infrastructure projects instead of just relying on donors. Accordingly, Masaka-Kampala road, Busega-Mityana road, Matugga-Semuto road and Kawempe-Kafu road have been funded by the Uganda Government ─ just to take a few near examples. However, there are scores of roads and electricity projects all over the country that are now being funded by the Uganda Government. We still welcome funding from the Development Partners and Lending Agencies for roads like Arua-Koboko-Oraba, Gulu-Atiak-Bibia, Mbarara-Ntungamo-Kabale-Katuna, etc. Our historical friends in the anti-colonial wars, the Chinese, have recently become an important source of development finance. Accordingly, we are negotiating with them to fund Karuma, Ayago and Isimba ─ although we had put aside some good money to start on some of those dams. If the negotiations, with the Chinese succeed, the 2.5 trillion shillings we had put aside to start off Karuma will be used for other infrastructure projects. Therefore, Uganda has not only recovered but is beginning to stand up and run some distance unaided. There are, however four areas where we need support from everybody ─ the area of industrialization in order to create jobs; the area of wealth creation (okugaggawaza) in each homestead so as to have homestead incomes instead of surviving on subsistence farming only (okulisa olubuto kyokka); discouraging land fragmentation especially on inheritance (okusikira); and fighting corruption. The cultural institutions, the religion faiths as well as the political leaders could help these efforts. Finally, I congratulate Your Highness, the Kabaka, on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) you signed with me the other day. That MOU deals with the issues some people who like to recklessly fish in troubled waters have been using regarding some issues including the former masaza-magombolola estates as well as the harmonization of the rights of the indigenous cultural groups in Buganda. I wish you happy celebrations and a long life. goo.gl/V8FtBL
Posted on: Sun, 04 Aug 2013 12:16:07 +0000
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