Kayunga — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Friday officiated the national commemoration of World Population Day at Busaana County Grounds in Kayunga District, with a strong call to accelerate household-level wealth creation through the Parish Development Model (PDM).
Held under the theme “Promoting Population Health and Wellbeing Through the Parish Development Model,” the event drew local leaders, diplomats, development partners, and citizens in a shared commitment to transforming communities from the bottom up.
In his keynote address, President Museveni challenged the notion that Africa is overpopulated, asserting that the continent’s real challenge is the underutilization of its vast human and natural resources.
“Africa is not overpopulated. In fact, it has been underpopulated for most of the last 1,000 years,” the President noted. “Africa is 12 times the size of India but has just surpassed India in population, reaching about 1.5 billion people. The real problem isn’t numbers—it’s confusion and economic inertia.”
Using examples like the Democratic Republic of Congo—nearly the size of India but with less than 90 million people—President Museveni argued that the continent’s potential remains largely untapped.
He emphasised that poverty in Uganda stems from ignorance and subsistence lifestyles, not population growth, and urged all Ugandans to enter the money economy through structured government initiatives such as PDM and Emyooga.
“In 2013, 68% of Ugandans were outside the money economy—growing food just to survive. We must awaken economically and shift to production for income,” he said.
The President stressed the distinction between “development infrastructure”—like roads, electricity, and water—and “wealth creation,” which must happen at the household level through the productive use of such infrastructure.
Highlighting the impact of PDM, he reiterated the government’s commitment to funding the program and ensuring transparency in implementation. “Each selected household must receive UGX 1 million. I don’t want to hear of people getting less than that. Every year, 100 households per parish will benefit, meaning 500 households in five years. No one should be left behind.”
Museveni also hinted at increasing the annual PDM funding to UGX 200 million per parish, while showcasing success stories from across the country as evidence of its impact.
He urged communities to avoid environmentally harmful practices such as wetland rice farming, advising them instead to harness wetlands for irrigation and preserve biodiversity.
On infrastructure, the President praised the people of Kayunga for their patriotic gesture of voluntarily donating land for the Kayunga–Bbaale–Galiraya Road, saving the government UGX 76 billion in compensation costs.
“You’ve done a smart thing. That land you gave up for the road will now be worth much more—just like in Mukono, where land jumped from UGX 5 million to UGX 60 million an acre,” he said. “But remember, roads without wealth in your home mean little. Let’s add a second word to development—wealth.”
First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, also addressed the gathering, urging citizens to continue supporting the NRM government and remain committed to self-reliance, education, and hard work. “Africans were not born to be poor. Let’s stand together to ensure everyone lives well in their homes. Discipline, education, and unity are key.”
Hon. Amos Lugoloobi, Minister of State for Planning and area MP, welcomed the President to Kayunga and thanked him for fulfilling long-standing infrastructure pledges.
He called for additional government interventions to address local challenges like power extension, village road repairs, and water access. He also raised concerns over rising theft of crops, livestock, and electrical infrastructure, which hampers local development.
Development partners also commended Uganda’s progress. Speaking on behalf of the European Union and development partners, Ambassador Frederieke Quispel of the Kingdom of the Netherlands hailed Uganda’s strides in population health, noting:
“Life expectancy has improved from 43 years in 1990 to 68 years today. Maternal deaths have been halved since 2016. Over 90% of Ugandans now live within five kilometres of a health facility.”
She affirmed the EU’s continued support, announcing that over €900 million is earmarked from 2022 to 2027 for health, education, social protection, water, and sanitation programmes.
United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr. Zulu Leonard, described Uganda’s young population as a powerful opportunity for growth if investments are made in education, skilling, health, and reproductive rights. “We must equip our youth to thrive. Investing in their future is how we build a prosperous nation.”
He lauded Uganda’s poverty reduction efforts, citing a decline in national poverty from 21% to 16%, and highlighted the alignment between the Parish Development Model and this year’s global theme.
Prof. Pamela Mbabazi, Executive Chairperson of the National Planning Authority (NPA), stressed the need to start development where people live and work—within their communities. “The Parish Development Model is a powerful tool. Real development starts in homes, villages, and parishes—not in boardrooms,” she said.
She also highlighted ongoing health investments, such as equipping rural clinics, and raised concern about the high rate of teenage pregnancies—24% of girls aged 15–19 are either pregnant or have given birth. “This is unacceptable. Uganda’s Fourth National Development Plan prioritises people-centred growth, especially for women, youth, and children. We must act now.”
The celebrations in Kayunga brought together district leaders, government officials, civil society, and diplomatic representatives, all united in the call to empower households, protect public health, and build a wealthier Uganda from the ground up.
