By Joseph Sooka
Namutumba District is set to experience an economic upswing as Princess Persis Namuganza, the State Minister in the Ministry of Lands Housing and Urban Development and MP for Bukono, has successfully brought President Yoweri Museveni’s Poverty Alleviation Department (PAD) program to her constituency.
This initiative promises to deliver livestock, fish fingerlings, and bees, aiming to alleviate poverty and foster wealth creation among the residents.
Lydia Balemezi, the Senior President’s Assistant in the Poverty Alleviation Department at State House, revealed that Namuganza actively sought the President’s intervention to extend the impactful PAD program to Bukono.
“The President has sent me to Bukono Constituency to ensure that people benefit from this program and get out of poverty. This program will run in this area for five years,” Balemezi announced during a preparatory meeting held on Friday, June 6, 2025, bringing together residents from all sub-counties within the constituency.
Balemezi further explained that the program will unfold in phases. “I’m training you first, and you will get these livestock, fish fingerlings, and bees in the few months to come. But the first thing we are giving you is cassava stems and potato leaves,” she disclosed before distributing the initial agricultural inputs.
The PAD program, established in 2000, acts as a central hub for pledges made by the President to combat poverty and boost wealth creation across Uganda.
Currently operational in 38 districts, including Bukono Constituency, the program provides beneficiaries with essential resources like livestock, fish fingerlings, and bees to kickstart income-generating activities.
“I congratulate the people of Bukono for the President granting this program to reach Bukono, as we will provide cows to every person during my tenure here,” Balemezi affirmed, emphasizing the long-term commitment to empowering the community.
The program adheres to five core pillars: home preparation, enterprise selection, and comprehensive beneficiary preparation before livestock distribution.
As a preliminary step, Namuganza’s constituents will receive cassava stems and potato leaves, both rich in calcium, to improve their overall health and well-being.
Balemezi issued a strong caution against potential detractors. “I warn politicians not to misguide people with negative attitudes about this program, and residents should not be misled because this program aims to improve your livelihood,” she stated, urging the community to embrace the opportunity.
Representing Namuganza at the beneficiary orientation sessions organized in each sub-county, Dorothy Nantambi echoed the call for participation. She encouraged residents to fully embrace the program to realize the Minister’s vision of lifting them out of poverty.
The initial beneficiaries of the cassava stems and potato leaves expressed their profound gratitude to Namuganza and called upon the President to continue supporting her.
They lauded her dedication to mobilizing support for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) within the constituency and the entire district.
“Minister Namuganza deserves to be unopposed because her services are unmatched,” they collectively asserted, highlighting her significant contributions to the community’s well-being.
The introduction of the PAD program, spearheaded by Namuganza, promises a brighter future for Bukono Constituency, paving the way for increased prosperity and a tangible improvement in the lives of its residents.
