President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa has urged Ugandans who cannot afford high prices for basic commodities to switch to cheaper alternatives like cassava.
Amidst increasing prices of commodities, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged Ugandans who cannot afford overpriced items such as bread to opt for cheaper alternatives including cassava.
“If there is no bread eat muwogo (cassava). Africans really confuse themselves. If you’re complaining that there’s no bread or wheat, please eat Muwogo. I don’t eat bread myself,” Museveni said in his speech during the Labour Day Celebrations at the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds on Sunday.
He said it is high time Africans stop complaining about the prices of commodities and resort to other alternatives. Museveni however, explained why the skyrocketing has over existed now for months.
He noted the immediate hike was brought about by the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine that led to an increase in fuel prices but said the coronavirus also left the economy of many countries disrupted, which has since created instability in exports and imports.
“For me am not worried about them (increased prices). If we handled corona, what can we not handle,” Museveni noted adding that the government is negotiating with western countries to find a solution to the hikes.
“We shall find solutions. We are talking quietly to Western Europe and Russia. We shall brief you at the right time. I am not worried because we have a solution,” he added.
Meanwhile, the International Labor Day National Celebrations were organised under the theme; Mitigating the impact of COVID-19: Enhancing Productive Employment for improved livelihoods through the Parish Development Model.
Speaking about this, the President commended the organisers for coming up with such a theme. He said the government initiated the Parish Development Model (PDM) to help uplift nearly 40 per cent of Ugandans that are stuck in subsistence production to commercial products which will, in turn, culminate in income generation and job creation.
‘’I felt elated about the organisers. I thank God that people are waking up now. A certain wise person named a child Otafiire, meaning that if you do not die, you will see good things. I have seen a good thing today at this event.’’
Museveni said the National Resistance Movement (NRM) has helped elevate Ugandans out of poverty through many other initiatives including NAADs. He, however, reminded that these ventures can only yield returns once the population gets involved.
‘’No government has ever given people money to get out of poverty before our time. Getting out of poverty was everyone’s private business then. All the government did was provide peace. If they wanted coffee or cotton, they would come and coerce you to produce it,’’ Museveni said.
‘’We have been giving money since the time of Entandikwa, Prosperity for all, NAADs, now we have Myooga, Parish Development Model, Operation Wealth Creation etc. Why? Because we want everyone to get involved in working for pocket and stomach for social-economic transformation,’’ he added.
