President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged residents of Wakiso and Kampala to shift their focus from visible infrastructure developments—such as roads, electricity, and factories—to individual wealth creation as the true path to sustainable prosperity.
Speaking at a public rally held on Monday, July 7, 2025, at Wampewo Community Playground in Wakiso District, the President acknowledged the remarkable infrastructural growth in the region but emphasised that real transformation must begin at the household level.
“Living in Kampala without working in a factory is okay—but then do something productive. Sell milk, meat, food, anything. Factory workers buy these things. Either work in a factory or supply one,” President Museveni said. “That’s why we’ve been sending you money through government programs. Don’t be misled by the beauty of tarmac roads; individual wealth creation is your responsibility.”
The rally launched President Museveni’s week-long wealth creation and Parish Development Model (PDM) assessment tour in Wakiso District, Uganda’s most populous district with over 3.4 million residents, spanning municipalities like Entebbe, Nansana, Kira, Makindye-Ssabagabo, and Wakiso Rural.
The President’s first day was packed with engagements, including visits to Kagoma Skilling Metal Fabricators in Nansana, carpenters and metalworkers in Kawanda, and Isaac Luzze—a PDM beneficiary involved in piggery and poultry farming in Gombe Division. These stops were meant to highlight the impact of government programs and inspire residents to take action in improving their livelihoods.
Reflecting on Uganda’s journey since 1986, President Museveni recalled a time of extreme scarcity: “There was no sugar, salt, paraffin, or clothing. Now we have local factories producing all these things. This transformation didn’t just happen—it’s a result of strategic choices.”
He revealed that Uganda’s factories have created over 1.2 million jobs, three times more than the public sector’s 480,000. Agriculture contributes another 3.6 million jobs, while the services sector—including transport and hospitality—has added 5 million.
With a focus on improving factory workers’ earnings, Museveni said the government is addressing high operational costs to create room for better wages. “We’re working on railway lines from Kenya and Tanzania to lower transport costs. Electricity tariffs for factories have already gone down. Once operational costs reduce, we’ll demand better pay for workers.”
He also took aim at opposition Members of Parliament, accusing them of abandoning their constituents. “When elections come, vote out these opposition MPs. They don’t follow up on your issues. You praise Gen. Ddamulira and Major Kuteesa—but why are they stepping in where your MPs should be acting? Those MPs just collect salaries,” he said.
Quoting a Luganda proverb—“Omuggo oguli ku muliraano tegugoba ngo” (The stick next door cannot chase away a tiger)—the President emphasized the importance of electing leaders who truly represent and care for their communities.
Museveni voiced concern over the slow response to youth-related challenges, attributing the gap to misinformation and political manipulation. He urged young people to actively utilize government initiatives, particularly the PDM, which targets transitioning households from subsistence to market-oriented production.
Progress of the Parish Development Model in Wakiso:
To date, Wakiso has received UGX 30.7 billion under the PDM. This has been disbursed to 31,952 households across 363 villages, 147 parishes, 27 sub-counties, and eight constituencies. The aim is to uplift household incomes and improve standards of living.
However, the President expressed disappointment over limited follow-up and engagement by local leaders and communities. “Since 1996, we’ve invested in wealth creation—first through NAADS, then Operation Wealth Creation, and now PDM. But there’s a serious problem: people are not monitoring these programs,” he said.
President Museveni’s wealth creation tour in Wakiso continues throughout the week, with more community interactions and project assessments planned until Friday.
