President Yoweri Museveni used the 44th Tarehe Sita Anniversary celebrations at Kasasa Township Grounds in Kyotera District on Thursday to remind and encourage Ugandans to add value to their products, especially farm produce, so as to benefit more from their economic sweat.
“The value addition with coffee we are moving. We are supporting a number of groups. Therefore, when we tell you that we are targeting an economy of USD 500 billion, in the next few years, take serious note of what we are saying,” the President said.
“The Greater Masaka area is moving forward in terms of commercialization of coffee, palm oil and milk. Add irrigation to your efforts and the sky will be the limit. In the Katonga flood plain we can do a lot of fishing. This rice I see there, I don’t think it’s a good idea, we shall talk about it,” he added.
Economy growing
Museveni, who is also the Commander-In-Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), noted that the economy of Uganda is growing progressively, all in the account of the five phases that the economy and society have gone through since 1986.
“As a consequence of all this, although we still have a lot to do, our economy will be USD59.3 billion by June 2025 using the Foreign Exchange Method but USD168.5 billion by the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) method. Remember we started with USD4 billion in 1986,” he said.
“The phases include minimum economic recovery by bringing back the 3Cs (Coffee, cotton and copper) and 3Ts (Tobacco, Tea and Tourism) of the colonial economy which Idi Amin has destroyed, the second phase was to expand this small economy, that is why with coffee now, we are at 9 million bags, we used to be at 2 million bags.Phase three is to diversify the economy, phase four is adding value and lastly, phase five, we have entered the knowledge economy which include automobile and vaccines.”
Peace and stability
President Museveni further revealed that the National Resistance Army (NRA) from the beginning was fighting for certain philosophical, ideological and strategic principles and targets, citing them as some of the reasons why Uganda has been peaceful all these years.
The President reiterated UPDF’s capacity to protect Ugandans and their property.
“Like the CDF Gen. Muhoozi has assured you, the UPDF has all the capacity to protect you, supported by you as well as protecting your property.”
Gen MUhoozi said the UPDF continues to work tirelessly to consolidate the fruits of the liberation struggle to ensure not only peace and security within Uganda’s border but also supporting other countries on the African continent.
Tarehe Sita is observed annually on 6th February, and it is a symbol of the founding of the people’s army. The celebrations ran under the theme: “Celebrating Pan African Solidarity and People’s Sacrifice in the Struggle for Freedom and Democracy for Socio-Economic Transformation”.
