Countrymen and Countrywomen, greetings from the Government and the NRM Party. Congratulations on completing 2022 and we wish you a prosperous 2023.
Tonight, I will speak about three issues: the high commodity prices and possible shortages (ebura) of those commodities; crime; and okukongora (idling around while others are working).
It is clear that the main driver of high commodity prices and shortages of some commodities is the war in Ukraine and the sanctions that were put on Russian oil and other products by Western countries. We have avoided taking sides in that conflict because we think that it could have been avoided and we have told those involved our views in private. Consequently, we have avoided negotiating with friendly Russia for cheaper oil like India has done because we are also friends with the USA and all the Western Countries. Instead, we are intensifying diplomatic contacts (quietly), to resolve the whole issue. In the meantime, we are handling the part of the problem that is easy for us to handle – the shortages. The shortages were partly due to the poor rains of the past seasons (eshumi). That is why we resolved to intensify the use of irrigation so as to immunize our agriculture against the erraticness of the weather. We are also intensifying efforts to produce products like palm oil that is used in the manufacture of soap instead of importing it from Indonesia and Malaysia. Below you can see the images of irrigation and Palm oil growing:
Therefore, while imported items may be scarce our own locally produced items will plenty. These are: bananas, cassava, millet, beans, maize, beef, milk, fish, eggs, chicken, etc. They may be expensive because of the petrol that is used to transport them; but they will be available. Even the prices of some of them remained stable during Christmas, take beef, for instance. The price remained stable. This could be because of some element of speculation by some goods and service providers; they unnecessarily raise prices. When the consumers stay away on account of the high prices, they are, then, forced to lower the prices and still make profit. What does that mean? It means, they were just too greedy for super-profits and were taking advantage of the situation. They were profiteering. That greed also distorts the picture of the struggle for lowering the costs of business and the cost of living. The Ugandans should remember that the problem is not only high commodity prices (obuseere) but possible shortages (ebura). Ebura will be defeated first.
Nevertheless, we are not just sitting and waiting for the global conflicts to calm down and bring down the price of fuel. We are working on plans to shift to electric buses, electric cars and electric piki pikis. The quickest move may be on Piki pikis. We have agreed with some investors, to take away the petrol/diesel ones and give the owners the electric ones. How will the investors recover their money? By the Government licensing them to operate charging stations where the electric batteries are re-charged. This swap (okuhanisa), will save the piki piki operator 50% of the cost. As pointed out above, the shift in transport vehicles is not only in respect of piki pikis. It also involves the buses, cars, mini-buses, pick-ups, etc., manufactured by Kiira Motors and METU Katabaazi and others. In the meantime, without yet talking to our Russian friends, we are talking to other petrol refiners to sell us cheaper fuel – eliminating middlemen who add as much as $50 per tonne on the cost of fuel. Our own petroleum will start flowing in 2025.
There is a story of the akahaanda akafunzire (the narrow path) in the Bible that leads to heaven as opposed to ekihaanda rugyeendwa (the wide popular path) that leads to Gehena (hell). The NRM always, in difficult times, follows the narrow path that always leads to salvation. The exact portion in the Bible, in the Book of Matthew, Chapter 7, verses 13-14 goes as follows:
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
On the issue of crime, I want to assure Ugandans that there is no terrorist group or criminal group that can defy the combined strength of the UPDF, the Uganda Police, the intelligence services, the Ugandan Prison Services, the Ugandan Wildlife Authority and the popular vigilance of the people. In this year ending, you have heard what happened to the following groups of terrorists and criminals:
- The Ndugwa-Ssemakula groups that attacked Police Posts in the Mityana-Kiboga are – 23 of them are now in prison including their leader Ssemakula Ndugwa;
- The ADF cell that attacked General Katumba when they killed his daughter and one other person; 3 of them were killed and 9 are in prison;
- Bijambiya attackers who killed 28 people in the Masaka area, 23 of them have all been arrested;
- The group that entered Uganda, in the Ntoroko area from Congo and killed one bicyclelist they met on the 11th December, 2022, 26 have been killed, 15 have been arrested and 22 weapons (SMGs and 2 light machine guns) have been captured; , etc.
I do not have time to give details of the operations that destroyed these groups. However, I will only briefly describe the group of Mao (real name Katende Moses), that attacked Busiika Police Post, killed two Police personnel and stole 2 guns. On the 9th of July, the CAO of Bukwo, Ogwang Charles, was ambushed and killed in the Matugga area by this group. On the 25th of July, panga wielding criminals, attacked a Police Check Point, where Policemen were obviously relaxed, near Kasana Luwero, killed 2 Policemen and took their guns. On the 31st of October, 2022 and on the 9th of December, criminals attacked Busiika Police Post and Kyabadaaza Police Station. In those attacks, two Police personnel and 2 civilians, were killed and some guns were taken. These criminals thought they were smart and unreachable. This is how they deceive themselves. However, as I told you in a recent television address, in a reasonably well organized system like Uganda, there is no way you can commit such crimes and you cannot leave clues. Using the inevitable clues they left behind, the police arrested some people, which enabled the Police to arrest another 50 associates of those criminals. Eventually, some more criminals were arrested and the evidence on them proved that the group that had been killing these People, was a group of seven ADF members, led by Mao whose real name is Katende Moses. This group had even brought in a light machine gun (LMG-PK) from Congo, which they used in Kyabadaaza. Consequently, on the 18th of December, the police attacked a hideout in Kito-Matugga, where Muwanguzi Abdul Shakur and Hajuuli Akimu were killed and 2 SMGs were recovered, including the one they robbed from Busiika Police Post. The Police also found IEDs that they were planning to use against targets they would choose. The remnants of the group fled to Nyendo, in Kyalugo – Bugambira. On the 24th of December, 2022, Katende Moses, the group leader, was arrested and was found with one LMG(PK), 7 SMGs, 1 pistol, 2IEDs, etc.,etc. An iPad was also got from a lodge in Bwala. Mao gets orders from Suleiman, who gets orders from Amigo in Congo. Apparently, the pressure on ADF in Congo is too much for them and these attacks in Uganda are to raise money for ADF in Congo and also, they, childishly, imagine, that these attacks will force us to withdraw from Congo.
Therefore, our strategy of destroying ADF in Congo and neutralizing these scattered elements within Uganda is correct. Recently, we have seen another childish form of actions by the anti-NRM elements, which also shows their desperation. This is the cutting of the electricity pylons. The targeting of these pylons, is actually a compliment to the NRM. The parasites who fear Africa’s strength, cannot stand a successful African economy like Uganda. Hence, attack the base of that success, that includes the massive electrification programme. Of course, this, again, shows the bankruptcy of these groups. How can anybody cut electricity pylons in Uganda and we fail to locate him or her? Stay tuned, you will soon hear interesting news on this.
This now brings me to my real topic of today: “okukongora”, known as luwac kom (onang-nang nango labedo), in Luo, ekalany (female), okalany (male) in Ateso and ovuu in Lugbara. It is an imagery from our rural setting and, also, in our rural Primary Schools, where we would do work in the compound or in the School Garden. Everybody is supposed to put in equal effort in the work at hand– cutting the grass in the compound (okutema akajiijja), removing the litter from the school compound (kuzambuura), digging in the School Garden or digging in the home garden (kuhiinga). There were People who would not do their share of work but expect equal reward (e.g. food after work at home). This conduct is very much frowned on and despised in the villages. This is exactly what is happening in the wider economy.
However, before I come to the economy today, let me first go back to our African dialects, which are very clear in describing actions of People and other phenomena. The following are crucial words:
- Okukora – to do work;
- Emirimo – work;
- Emizaano – sports, games;
- Embaga – feasting;
- Kweshongora – singing, music;
- Kuhiiga – hunting;
- Kuhuumba – gathering wild fruits;
- Kuterekyerera – appeal to the super-natural forces through traditional prayers (kusiga);
- Kushaba – prayers (modern way);
- Obwomeezi – ability to live;
- Entunguuka – development;
- Obugaiga – wealth;
- Okugwagye –
These words remind us that what is most basic in all these is, obwomeezi (amagara, obulamu) and okugwagye (living and prosperity). In order to achieve these, you must kukora or somebody must kukora for you (work). In our traditions, work was in 4 categories as follows:
- Kuhiinga – cultivation;
- Kuriisa – livestock herding (cattle, goats, sheep);
- Skills of the hand (Emyooga) – kuheesha (blacksmith), kubeija (carpentry, woodwork), kukomaga (making bark cloth), kutananga – making arrows and bows, kunogoora – making clay pots, abariimbi – transporters on water, abagyeengyi – surgeons, abafumu – herbalists;
- Abajubi –
This pre-capitalist system, is metamorphosing into new sectors of the economy. The NRM has repeatedly told you of the four sectors:
- Commercial agriculture (crops, livestock, fisheries);
- Industry (manufacturing and mining);
- Services;
We have repeatedly told you that if you want livelihood and prosperity, you must strive and find space in one of the four. Of course, there is a fifth sector, the Public Service, that accommodates 480,000 persons from a population of 43 million People. It is not correct for many People to have hope in finding livelihood and prosperity in the Public Service. It is wrong and dangerous. It is wrong because those jobs are not enough. It is dangerous because most of the Public Service jobs, do not directly add to the wealth of the Country and yet they take money (salaries). Some Public Service jobs, yes, contribute to wealth creation. Take the Security providers (e.g. Army, Police, etc.), for instance. Without them, wealth creation is impossible. Some of the scientific cadres (doctors, engineers, vets, etc.), add to wealth creating by supporting our health and giving scientific support to the efforts of the Wealth creators. Some of the social-scientists, if they have the right orientation, also contribute to wealth creation. This category includes economists, a minimum of administrators, etc. However, the pressure to create too many administrative units e.g. municipalities, endless list of new districts, sub- counties, etc., is wrong once you have addressed the problem of sub-colonialism that we inherited from the imperialist (some groups using Local Government Units to oppress People like the Baruuri, Banyala, Banyaruguru, etc.).
Therefore, not to lose this historical moment, we must emphasize the 4 sectors of Wealth creation: commercial agriculture; Industry (manufacturing); Services; and ICT.
Within the four sectors, we should clearly distinguish the differences between emirimo (work) and emizaano (sports, playing), between okukora (work) and okutarama (trans-night) or ebinyumo (merry-making). With the growth of modern economies, activities like music (okweshongora) and sports (emizaano), have shifted from just being amusements (kushemeza) and hobbies, to emirimo (work) for the actors (some of the musicians and some of the sportsmen). These earn from those jobs. How about the fans? How much of their time do they spend on watching these actors? When do they have time to spend in their gardens, factories, clinics, etc. Is gambling (zaara), a job? When we were young, we used to do the game of zaara with split beans – four of them. If they all faced down, that was 10 heifers (enyana) for you; if they all faced up, that was 8 heifers (enyana for you), if two faced up and two down, you had two enyana; outside those 3, if I remember correctly, you lose. This was a game (omuzaano), not a job (omurimo). Even in Ludo, in Mbarara High School, we would play that game. Can you make that game and other forms of gambling, jobs? Moreover, if the musicians and sportsmen and churchmen are making a living through those services, how about the fans and the followers? Should they forget their own mirimo (crops, livestock, factory work, clinics, etc.) and spend all their time in concerts, churches, etc.? The only time, I have entered a Court of Law, was 1956, when, being attracted by a game of football, I joined the other boys (near Kame’s Kraal) for a moment of enjoying the sport as a player (because I was a good footballer), only to discover that the cattle I was herding had descended on a Mwanainchis luscious millet garden. Running at full-speed, I tried to save whatever was remaining of the millet. It was, however, too late. I had committed the offence of okwonesa. Lawyers, please, translate that for me in English and legal jargon. For lay understanding, it means one’s livestock eating the crop of another citizen. This temporary attraction to village football, qualified me to appear before the Parish Court at Kikoni, under a mutooma tree – omutuba – ficus nantelensis – in Mzee Katojo’s rutookye (banana plantation). I was, then, coached, I do not remember by who, to say: “omushaango ningwikyiriiza” – I plead guilty to the charge – and that by so doing, it will be better for everybody. I think Mzee Kaguta had to pay the millet owner some enkaitsi (compensation). Or was he forgiven in the interests of village solidarity? Hence, Bazukulu: there is time for everything”. It goes, in the Book of Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3 Verses 1-8, as follows:
A Time for Everything
3 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
In Katakwi yesterday, I told all present and not present, about the repeated position of the NRM regarding Development and Wealth – Entunguuka and obugaiga. Entunguuka (Schools, health centres, roads, etc.), belongs to all of us – wealth creators and parasites. Wealth, however, belongs to the individual proprietor and respective house-holds. It is your wealth that will help you solve your personal needs of: food, shelter, clothing, mode of transport etc. Even if the Government builds a good tarmac road near your house, we cannot also feed you and your family, we cannot clothe you etc. Even for the development to be sustained, the wealth of the homes and individuals must grow. Why? When I have wealth in my home,
e.g. milk, bananas, etc., I, first of all, supply those items to Ugandans for their use and some are exported. Additionally, the family gets income and they buy consumer items: sugar, clothing, petrol for Piki piki, etc. Each of those items, has got a tax on them. Therefore, my household contributes to the budget of the country that supports development of the Country (roads, schools, etc.) and also my family pocket supports the factories producing the sugar, the textiles, etc. Indirectly, I, therefore, help some Ugandans to get jobs in those factories.
Therefore, let us be clear. No kukongora. The sectors
are four: commercial agriculture; industry; services; and ICT. Within those sectors, we must distinguish between: okukora and okuzaana (work and play) and know that everything has got its time. When you do not work when you are supposed to, you are a mukongozi (a malingerer) – a cheater.
In order to ensure that everybody can participate, we have put Ushs. 100million per parish for helping families to engage in small scale high value agriculture of the 7 activities: coffee, fruits, zero- grazing cattle, food crops, poultry for eggs, piggery and fish farming.
We have put Ugx. 1.2 trillion in UDB to lend, at low interest rates, for manufacturing and large-scale commercial agriculture, including the extensive agriculture that will, in addition to the 7 activities of the small-scale intensive agriculture mentioned above, support the activities that only make profit when they are done on a large-scale. These include: cotton, tobacco, sugarcane, tea, ranching, etc.
UDC has been given Ugx. 424 billion to co-invest for manufacturing with the private sector or invest on its own in identified profitable areas.
- Sugar Processing – Atiak – 274bn;
- Road construction – 26.15;
- Munyonyo Convention Centre – 86.4;
- Zombo Tea – 10bn;
- Luwero Fruit – 6bn;
- Soroti Fruit – 1bn;
- Busoga Sugar – 6bn;
- Glove Manufacturing – 15bn.
Finally, there is the Emyooga fund at the constituency for the skills that are not covered under PDM. These emyooga are:
- Boda Boda Riders,
- Women Entrepreneurs,
- Carpenters,
- Salon Operators,
- Taxi Operators,
- Restaurant Owners,
- Welders,
- Market Vendors,
- Youth Leaders,
- Persons With Disabilities,
- Produce Dealers,
- Mechanics,
- Tailors,
- Journalists,
- Performing Artists,
- Veterans,
- Fishermen and,
- Elected
These have been given Ugx. 258.24 billion to benefit 6,714 Emyooga SACCOs with a membership of 1.9million individuals.
Below are the successful beneficiaries under Emyooga
- Bukimbiri Youth Leaders Value Addition SACCO
- Kong’asisTaxi Operators
- Bugabula South Constituency Produce dealers
- Rubanda Boda boda Emyooga SACCO
Below are the successful beneficiaries that borrowed from UDB for commercial agriculture and industry.
- Inspire Africa Coffee Limited
- Kyankwanzi Premier Ranchers
- Agroways Limited
- Biyinzika Enterprises Limited
- Creekside Farms Limited
- Akuku Farm Seeds Limited
- Kampala Domestic Stores Limited.
- Abasajja Kweyamba Irrigation Scheme
- Yahe International Limited
- Kamuli Sugar
- Uganda Farmers Crop Industries Limited/ Sezibwa
- Lota agro processors Limited
- Manyakabi Area Cooperative Enterprises Limited
- Rubanga Cooperative Society Limited
- Muhangi Dairy Farm Ltd
- Aralla Farm Limited
- Cumiika Farms Limited
- Central Grazing Company Limited
- Kabeihura Farmers Limited.
- Rwambaga Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society
- Nice House of Plastics Ltd
- Steel & Tube Industries Ltd
- Movit Products Ltd
- Jesa Farm Diary Ltd
- Kakira Sugar
- Luuka Plastics Ltd
- Kamuli Sugar
- Royikems industries Ltd
- Quality Plastics Ltd
- Afroplast Enterprises Ltd
- Kampala Domestic Stores
- Globo Chemicals U Ltd
- Felm U Ltd
- Kabaco U Ltd
- Medipharm
- Musabody Machinery U Ltd
- Kazire health products Ltd – herbal medicines
- Mish farm Ltd – Beef farm
- Heritage Ranch Ltd – Beef farm
- Ask International- Fish processing
- Farm holdings Ltd – Beef processing
Below are the projects under UDC or the Innovation Fund under the President. The Kawumu Leather Tannery was done under the Innovation Fund and the factory is shown below:
Kawumu Leather Tannery
Kawumu Leather Tannery
Kawumu Leather Tannery
Down with the okukongora. Long live the Prosperity for all of us. The talk that the money is at the Parish or constituency, but is not accessible, is not acceptable. You, the Bazukulu, take interest in the money. Demand from the Muruka Chief for the PDM and from the CAO for the Emyooga, the details about the money. Do not say that your Jajja, Uganda, akulamidde (akuragyire – has bequeathed you) your share, but you do not bother to trace where it is and access it. The Government will act from this side. You should also act from that side. Mulondole essente ezo (trace that money).
HAPPY, 2023.
