'Your Poverty Saddens, Pains Me!' - Museveni Tells Ugandans

‘Your Poverty Saddens, Pains Me!’ – Museveni Tells Ugandans

President Yoweri Museveni has advised Ugandans to avoid complacency and grab possibilities for financial progress in order to speed up the country’s struggle against poverty.

Museveni addressed the citizens of the East African country, emphasizing the necessity of teamwork and warned that too many people have become accustomed to poverty.

“I felt compelled to visit because I heard that some of you have grown too comfortable with poverty,” said Museveni, who has been Uganda’s leader since 1986 after a successful five-year guerrilla war.

“We will continue offering financial support, but I implore you to take bold steps toward breaking free from poverty.”

As part of these efforts, Museveni has pledged to enhance funds for the Parish Development Model (PDM) initiative.

This afternoon, I begun my PDM assessment tour in Ankole sub-region.

First, I visited Mrs Deziranta Tumusiime, a 64 year old woman from Rubirizi District. She is a PDM beneficiary who received 1 million shillings in 2023, invested in piggery and goat rearing and her farm now… pic.twitter.com/8DpJIEOF04
— Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) February 25, 2025

Currently, each qualifying beneficiary receives Ugsh. 1 million, but any future increases will be determined by how effectively the targeted 36% of households use the existing cash.

Museveni cited successful examples like Ms. Tumusiime Deziranta, who used her PDM allotment to begin livestock farming and grow pigs and goats for the first time.

“Poverty may be your burden, but it pains me deeply to witness it. If you keep using the funds wisely, we will increase the amount over time. I want you to develop a strong aversion to poverty,” said the 80-year-old president.

The president commended the Rubirizi District for appropriately managing PDM finances and combating corruption and urged other regions to follow likewise.

“Many Ugandans have never even handled a million shillings in their lifetime. Imagine being 64 years old and never having seen that amount. You are fortunate here not to have issues with corruption.”

Museveni detailed the government’s plans to invest Shs500 million in each parish over the next five years.

This would help over 500 families by the third year and eventually total Shs800 million per parish via a savings and credit cooperative system (SACCO).

President Museveni urged religious leaders to actively participate in wealth creation programmes, emphasising that prosperity aligns with spiritual well-being. He called on them to mobilise believers to embrace wealth creation initiatives to fight poverty. #OpenGovUg pic.twitter.com/CauZNjrYHm
— Government Citizen Interaction Centre (@GCICUganda) February 24, 2025

“I want this money to remain within the community and drive long-term development,” he explained.

Museveni advised against land fragmentation, stating that it undercuts efforts to maximize the advantages of PDM money.

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“One of your biggest challenges is splitting land when the family head passes away. Why not keep the land intact and work on it collectively as a family? Small plots limit potential. Think about your children’s future,” he advised.

The Parish Development Model, which was launched on February 26, 2022, aims to bring government services closer to individuals and improve grassroots service delivery.

The initiative has focused on Rubirizi District, which contains 167,835 inhabitants and 36,330 households, 33,786 of which are subsistence farmers.

Museveni began his tour of the Ankole sub-region by visiting Rubirizi, Sheema, and Ibanda districts and meeting with PDM beneficiaries.

‘Your Poverty Saddens, Pains Me!’ – Museveni Tells Ugandans