Museveni Calls for Wealth Creation as Solution to Unemployment

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged Ugandans to focus on wealth creation as the most sustainable pathway to employment, emphasizing that job opportunities already exist, particularly in agriculture, if properly utilized.

Speaking at the International Labour Day celebrations held at Nkoyoyo Boarding Primary School Grounds in Matale, Buikwe District, the President said the challenge is not the lack of jobs, but failure to follow government guidance on productive ventures.

“The issue is not jobs, it is about following government advice,” he said.

He cited examples of successful small-scale farmers, including Mr. Richard Nyakana of Fort Portal, who earns over UGX 200 million annually from 1.2 acres through poultry and dairy farming, employing 12 people. He also referenced a farmer in Kamuli who started on a 50 by 100 plot and now earns significantly from poultry farming.

President Museveni noted that Uganda has about 40 million acres of arable land, arguing that widespread adoption of such models would naturally drive job creation.

He cautioned against entering business without proper planning and discouraged reliance on high-interest commercial bank loans. Instead, he advised borrowing from the Uganda Development Bank and leveraging government initiatives like the Parish Development Model (PDM), whose funding he said would be doubled in the next government term. He also urged beneficiaries to repay funds to sustain the program.

On workers’ welfare, the President pledged government support in securing land near industrial parks for the construction of affordable housing, adding that the National Housing and Construction Company would take on the task if private investors are unavailable.

Addressing concerns in the education sector, he acknowledged the issue of irrelevant courses and assured that the Ministry of Education would provide clearer guidance.

Reflecting on Uganda’s industrial growth, President Museveni attributed the rise of over 5,000 factories to sustained peace and investments in electricity, recalling efforts to resolve the 2005–2006 load shedding crisis.

He called on Members of Parliament to support key infrastructure projects, including electricity expansion, the oil refinery, water transport initiatives with Tanzania, railway development, and increased funding for agriculture through PDM.

The President also emphasized the need to transition more Ugandans into the money economy, urging legislators to assess productive engagement among their constituents.

On environmental management, he warned against wetland encroachment and overdependence on fishing, advocating for sustainable practices. He cited Limoto Wetland, where farmers shifted to fish farming at the edges, earning over UGX 70 million per acre, and highlighted the benefits of irrigation, referencing a government farm in Bushenyi producing 53 tonnes of bananas compared to 5 tonnes by neighboring traditional farmers.

He further raised concerns about underutilized funds in the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), proposing investment in infrastructure such as toll roads, including the planned Kampala–Jinja expressway.

The celebrations were held under the theme: “Safeguarding Uganda’s Progress: Empowering the Workforce and Promoting Decent Work for Competitive Enterprise.”

Vice President Jessica Alupo thanked the President for prioritizing workers’ issues, while the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Betty Amongi, praised the government for ensuring peace and security as a foundation for jobs, development, and food security. She also highlighted Buikwe’s growing status as an industrial hub.

Mr. Okello Musa, Chairman General of the National Organization of Trade Unions, commended the rollout of the Public Service Pension Scheme set for July and the increase in the PAYE threshold, but raised concerns about worker accommodation and the mismatch in the education system.

Mr. Fred Bamwesigye, representing the Federation of Uganda Employers, lauded the government’s Third National Development Plan, the proposed increase in PDM funding from UGX 100 million to UGX 200 million, and the amended Employment Act.

State Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations, Esther Anyakun, also appreciated the President for assenting to labour-related legislation.