Museveni Unveils Plans for Communal Irrigation Systems to Boost Agriculture in Western Uganda
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni announced plans to establish communal irrigation systems for farmers in western Ugand aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and ensuring consistent production cycles particularly during dry spells. The president emphasized the need for proper wetland management during a meeting with leaders from the Ankole and Kigezi regions held at Kyamate playground in Ntungamo District.
In his remarks, Museveni highlighted the potential impact of the initiative predicting that improved irrigation systems could increase banana production by over 10% scaling yields from 5 to 50 tons. He referenced the success of the Presidential Banana Development Initiative in Nyaruzinga, Bushenyi District, as a model for the planned irrigation schemes.
“Let’s focus on wealth creation for the socio-economic transformation of our people,” Museveni urged, calling on regional leaders to abandon “politics of deceit” and prioritize agricultural development. He also noted that the government allocates UgX1.5T annually towards wealth creation interventions, totaling approximately UgX 7T over five years.
The meeting was attended by various leaders, including district chairpersons, Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) and Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) from the Kigezi and Ankole regions who gathered to discuss the president’s vision for agricultural transformation in western Uganda.
President Museveni’s initiative underscores the government’s commitment to improving food security and promoting sustainable farming practices in the region which is critical for the livelihoods of local communities.
