President Museveni: Use your God-given talents well to enhance economic development
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged Ugandans to utilise their God-given talents correctly to improve on their household earnings.
First, President Museveni congratulated Ugandans for making it through the year, loving God and celebrating Christmas during a church sermon he attended at Nshwerenkye Church of Uganda, Kenshunga Sub-county, Kiruhura District according to the press statement released by the State House.
The Christmas Church sermon which the President attended was led by Rev. Meseach Kihondwa.
“thank you for loving and respecting God. It is good for all of us. Religion played a big role in waking up the people. I call on you to fully utilise your talents. I am happy to note that you are committed to God and are engaged in income generation,” the President said.
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Speaking before the church congregation, President Museveni said that in 1986, Ugandans were blinded about the wealth contained in cattle rearing.
But today many Ugandans have attained wealth after receiving knowledge on how to produce milk for sale, grow bananas, sugarcane for sell among others.
President Museveni commended Ugandans for engaging in sustainable development programmes aimed at stumping out poverty in Uganda’s homesteads. He said currently Uganda feeds on abundant agro product produce.
Museveni pointed out that today Uganda imports infant milk worth $100 million annually, which calls for review because Uganda produces a lot of milk which can be processed into infant milk.
“We still need a lot of milk here and abroad; we still import milk for babies/children of the rich.”
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However, he said plans to process more product from milk and ethanol in Uganda are proceeding.
In his further remarks, President Museveni asked Ugandans to be calculative when choosing economic projects. But to Kiruhura District residents and the neighbouring areas, Museveni urged them to put the focus on cattle rearing particularly exotic breeds.
In his argument, the exotic breeds are capable of producing 20 litres of milk per cow daily. Emphasizing the matter, he asked cattle keepers to grow enough pasture for the animals to ensure better and profitable dairy output.
He also asked cattle keepers particularly dairy producers to be patient during this time when milk prices are low because it’s a temporary challenge.
“People (in this area) did not know that farming can make you wealthy. They would sell cows to get money to pay graduated tax, buy clothes for family members and buy some inputs. When we came, we taught them how rearing cows can be done as a business; it’s better than (running) a
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Museveni then lauded farmers and cattle keepers for the surplus production which have increased Uganda’s food production and asked them to work much harder despite the low prices because one day the market prices will rise once again.
“I want to thank you; a lot of milk, bananas and maize. Don’t get discouraged on producing milk, the market is still there. The price going down is temporary, it will go up again, don’t give,” Museveni appealed.
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Museveni adds that in the past year’s processed milk and its products that’s powered milk and butter were imported to Uganda from Kenya, but this has changed because of technological advancement which has made it possible for such products to be manufactured locally for both local and international markets.
Also, Museveni said that one reason why milk prices have dropped is that Kenya is currently producing a lot of milk due to the heavy rainfall they receive, yet it has been the largest consumer of Uganda’s milk products.
He then offered a piece of advice to the cattle keepers against rearing low milk-producing cows to maximise profits. According to Museveni, low milk-producing cows are costly because one wastes a lot in feeding and treatment and gains less from it.
“I can’t keep a Friesian cow that can’t produce 20 litres of milk a day. I can’t allow it to remain on my farm, I sell it. Even our local breed (traditional cows), I can keep a cow that can’t produce nine litres a day, I can’t leave it on my farm,” said Museveni.
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President Museveni who was in the company of his Wife Janet Kataha Museveni and other family members said that because of good choices, he currently owns local breeds that produce 25 litres of milk daily.
Nevertheless, Rev Kihondwa who led the Christmas sermon said that Christmas day is a wonderful celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth to save the world and bring about unity between man and God after the fall of man.
Rev. Kihondwa condemned acts of homosexuality and lesbianism arguing that they should not be considered as human rights because they are against the original version of family.
