President Yoweri Museveni has implored Maracha District residents to utilize the government livelihood funds to better their households.

President Museveni made the plea on Tuesday, October 14, accompanied by First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataaha Museveni, during his presidential campaign rally at Nyadri Urban Secondary School grounds, stating that is within their power to uplift their household wellbeing following the several livelihood programs that government has sunk money.

The President said that the government has matched the heavy investment in infrastructure with increased funding to livelihood programs, arguing investing in infrastructure is pointless if citizens are living in abject poverty.

“All this we are talking about is economic-socio infrastructure, the roads, the schools these are all assets, we have this wonderful tarmac road here, the question is do you sleep on this tarmac road at night? Where do you sleep? That means the poverty you left in the morning if you go back will be there waiting for you,” he explained.

Stating the history of civil unrest witnessed in West Nile and Uganda as a whole in the previous decades, President Museveni said it is only under the NRM government that Uganda has been pacified creating a conducive and viable environment for growth and development.

“The NRM has brought peace for the first in Uganda in 500 years, some people talk about Uganda as if it started with the British, this is a party (NRM) that has been struggling for Uganda’s interests,” he told the rally.

He stated the delayed connection of West Nile to the national electricity grid was due to the low power consumption in the region which justified the setting up of Nyagak power station through a private-public partnership but also considering the long-term of Karuma and other energy investments.    

“The problem at that time was the demand was 2 megawatts so if you put a strong currency who consumes this power, if you put a weak currency 32KV it becomes weaker by the time it comes here, that is why we initially put Nyagak. We were telling people, power will come but let us move according to the plan,” President Museveni elaborated.

The NRM presidential flag bearer said the industrial schillings hubs established across the country under his Office have been a beacon of hope to many young people who have dropped out of formal school.

“Without paying school fees I have been able to change the lives of these young people,” he said after some of the beneficiaries from Maracha District gave their testimonies.

On the issue of start-up capital for the graduates from the industrial skilling hubs, President Museveni said each district has set up a SACCO funded with UGX 50 million for the youth to borrow money for equipment.

Eighty two youth from Maracha District have graduated from the presidential skilling hub in Zombo District. 

Meanwhile,  Ms. Museveni said the residents should vote for Museveni under his leadership the country was on a trajectory to become a modern and prosperous country due to the development sustained under the NRM leadership.  

“So far we have done a good job in building the foundation but now we are going to build a modern Uganda that is why our program says we are protecting the gains but we taking a leap forwards,” she mobilized residents. 

 Ms. Museveni said NRM government stands for inclusive development with equal and open access to education and livelihood programs.

Maracha District NRM Chairperson, Mr. Gabriel Ofekua commended government for the over UGX 9 billion that has been channeled to the communities through the Parish Development Model (PDM) program to propel them into the money economy.   

“Your excellency we the people of Maracha would like to thank you for ensuring that there must be PDM to put money into the pockets of the people, the people of Maracha,” he said.

Ofekua appealed to President Museveni for the establishment of a district hospital due to the over bearing costs incurred by residents during referrals to the neighboring districts.

“One of the biggest challenges is a district hospital, when referrals are done people are taken to Koboko, Yumbe, Terego, and Arua which is very expensive,” he said in his remarks.