President Yoweri Museveni on Saturday met residents of nine villages from Sembabule and Gomba districts to pilot a poverty eradication project.
The visited villages are located near the president’s farm in Kisozi, Gomba.
The president said he had earlier provided residents with inputs to help them get out of poverty.
“When I first came here in 1990, I found nearly everyone in need. Many people were poor. There were no roads, no schools. Crime was high,” the president said.
He added: “I am glad this is changing now. You must continue working to kick poverty out of your homes. If you have money, you can do anything for your families.”
He said there are 29 homes that have not received seedlings and 77 that have not received cows.
“We hope to give them from “empaano” (one of the calves born by a cow donated by government)”.
Museveni warned that those who took SACCO money and have not refunded it, must do so, because failure to pay affects others.
“My initial contribution was Shs250m. I will add an extra Shs250m, but you too must make your own contributions so that you borrow at an interest rate of 1% per annum. The SACCO should grow into a bank.”
The president promised to work on the issue of water and provide manure from his own farm, although the long-term plan is that people must all produce manure in their homes.
“We are also going to ensure you get electricity in your villages. There are people from Busia who have maize mills. We shall put you in touch so that you buy feed for your chicken and pigs.”
He said the road to Kangyenyi, Kisaawo, Kiruuli and Kitende will be built.