PRESIDENT MUSEVENI URGES SHEEMA FARMERS TO EMBRACE IRRIGATION, COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE

SHEEMA DISTRICT — President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged farmers in Sheema District to embrace irrigation, pasture growing, fertiliser use and commercial agriculture to improve productivity, protect crops against drought and lift households out of poverty.

The President made the remarks on October 25, 2026, while officiating at a thanksgiving ceremony for Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, Minister of Internal Affairs and Member of Parliament for Sheema County South, held at Bugongi Town Council Playground.

President Museveni thanked residents for supporting him and Prof. Kamuntu in the recent elections, saying his commitment to fighting poverty began during his school days at Mbarara High School and Ntare School.

He recalled visiting government stock farms during weekends, where he observed livestock spraying, improved milk production and agricultural practices that increased productivity. “It was at Ntare School where I developed the thirst to deliver Africans from poverty, starting with Ugandans,” he said.

The President said his wealth creation campaign gained momentum after moving from Ntungamo to Nyabushozi in 1966, where he encountered communities largely dependent on subsistence farming and nomadic pastoralism.

Four-acre model President Museveni explained that the four-acre model, introduced in the 1996 National Resistance Movement manifesto, was intended to help households with limited land escape poverty through commercial agriculture.

He advised farmers to allocate one acre to coffee, another to fruit growing, a third to pasture for livestock and the fourth to food crops for household consumption. He added that families could supplement their incomes through poultry and piggery, while those living near swamps could engage in fish farming along swamp edges.

The President said some families in the Bushenyi area had embraced dairy and coffee farming, but many others remained trapped in poverty. He urged political and local leaders to reach households that had not adopted commercial production. “You leaders are the eyes of the people you lead. Reach out to the lowest people in the village and preach the message of wealth creation,” he said.

Irrigation and pasture management Addressing the prolonged drought affecting banana plantations in Sheema and other parts of the country, President Museveni identified irrigation as essential for sustaining agricultural production during dry seasons.

He said underground water resources in parts of Ankole and Kigezi could be tapped to support irrigation and improve crop yields when rainfall is inadequate.

He also urged farmers to replace uncontrolled free-range grazing with pasture growing and improved livestock management. According to the President, proper pasture management and zero grazing can support more animals on smaller pieces of land while improving productivity.

He called on local leaders to encourage farmers to invest in irrigation, grow livestock pasture and use fertilisers to increase crop yields.

Preserving family wealth

President Museveni advised families to protect wealth across generations by avoiding the subdivision of property after parents die. He suggested registering companies to own family assets and allocating shares to beneficiaries instead of dividing property into smaller units. On infrastructure, he said the government would work on roads in the area, although he cautioned residents against using poor roads as an excuse for remaining in poverty.

He pledged support for the construction of Kitagata Hospital and other development projects, including those in Bundibugyo. He also committed two tractors to Sheema District to help address challenges associated with poor-quality grass. Additionally, the President pledged Shs300 million towards completing St Peter's Cathedral Bweranyangi, a Church of Uganda project in Bushenyi District.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa thanked the President for dedicating five square miles of land in Ruhengyere, Kiruhura District, to the Ankole sub-region for industrial development and job creation.

Tayebwa also appealed for government support for Igara Tea Factory, which he said faced financial difficulties and risked being taken over by a bank.

Prof. Kamuntu thanked President Museveni for attending the ceremony and supporting his public service career. He also commended government programmes, including the Parish Development Model and Emyooga, saying they were positively affecting communities in Sheema.

The ceremony was attended by government officials, religious leaders and local leaders.