President Museveni has brought smiles on the faces of fishermen after proposing a special fund to be created for them besides the known Parish Development Model!
The Head of State suggests that these men and women of the lake use very expensive tools like boats and fishing nets whose prices cannot be met by the Parish Development Model program which gives Shs1m to beneficiaries.
He therefore, says his government will create a special fund for fishermen, aimed at improving their livelihoods.
The son of Mzee Amos Kaguta and Mama Esteeri Kokundeka, made the remarks during a visit to one of the PDM beneficiaries Titus Tumusiime’s farm in Sironko village, Nyamukutu parish, Butiaba Sub-county, Buliisa County, Buliisa district (Bunyoro Sub-Region).
The President, who is on a performance assessment tour on PDM in Bunyoro sub region, stated that the initiative money is not enough for the fishermen, thus suggesting that the government will come up with an additional form of financial support for this category.
“The fishermen’s fishing tools such as boats, and fishing nets are expensive. The PDM money isn’t enough for them to purchase these tools. And so, we shall create other funds for them,” he said.
He therefore, resolved by calling for a meeting with the fishing community leaders in May this year to discuss more on the matter.
Museveni who appreciated Tumusiime for being a model farmer, splashed Shs10m on him to buy a tuk tuk to help him in transporting pig feeds and Shs25m to buy a grinder.
During the same event, the President gave a thumbs up gesture to the Kingship of Bugungu called Butebengwa, and he promised to call for the meeting between the Butebengwa team and Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom to create sanity.
The President’s response came after MP Allan Atugonza of Buliisa County, informing him about the Kingship of the Bugungu called Butebengwa.
He expounded that all the approval and process of Butebengwa as a kingdom is complete and the proposal has already been submitted to the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social development waiting for gazettement.
About the lake wrangles in the area, Museveni urged the local leaders to get involved in handling Lake Albert issues and he promised to organize a stakeholders’ meeting in May this year to discuss more about the lake.
Meanwhile, Atugonza commended the President for initiating poverty alleviation programs like the PDM that have improved the lives of Ugandans.
ENTER TUMUSIIME
This farmer thanked President Museveni for the PDM initiative, saying that it has been very instrumental in helping him create household income.
Tumusiime who received Shs997,000 PDM money after bank charges on 15th of November 2023, informed the President that he bought six pigs at Shs120,000 each.
He then spent Shs 120,000 on pig feeds, Shs70,000 to construct a fence for the pigs, Shs 40,000 on drugs, Shs 40,000 on transportation.
He added that later, two female pigs produced 26 piglets while three pigs produced 22 piglets, making a total of 48 piglets.
He sold the first 26 piglets each at Shs 100,000, earning Shs2,600,000. The other 22 piglets were sold at Shs. 80,000 and he earned Shs1,700,000.
All together he earned Shs 4,300,000. Since then, the rest is history. The visit was also attended by Ministers, Members of Parliament, among other leaders.
