Brigadier General Godfrey Muwanguzi, Deputy Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), has launched a four-day working visit to Buvuma Island, with a primary focus on evaluating the impact of the Parish Development Model (PDM) and inspecting the progress of the National Oil Palm Project (NOPP).
During his visit, Brig Gen Muwanguzi toured oil palm plantations and held key dialogues with investors and community leaders, emphasizing the need to strengthen local partnerships and maximize the benefits of government programs. His engagement aimed to assess how PDM is reshaping livelihoods and boosting economic development in Buvuma’s rural communities.
At a meeting with district officials, Muwanguzi urged local leaders to learn from Kalangala’s success in oil palm farming, and to adopt more proactive strategies to drive similar progress in Buvuma. “We must remain united in our pursuit of government goals for social and economic transformation,” he stressed.
He also underscored the importance of the Four Cs—Command, Control, Timely Communication, and Effective Coordination—as key pillars for successful implementation of both the PDM and the oil palm initiative.
Resident District Commissioner Jacqueline Birungi welcomed the visit, describing it as a source of renewed motivation for local leadership. Chief Administrative Officer Mboogo Issa acknowledged the strides made in improving livelihoods through oil palm cultivation, which has led to better education, infrastructure, housing, and nutrition.
However, he noted persistent challenges including delays in landowner compensation, slow disbursement of PDM funds, late payments to tenant farmers, and transport constraints that continue to affect full realization of the project’s potential.
District Chairperson Adrian Ddungu Wasswa applauded President Yoweri Museveni for championing financial inclusion through PDM, attributing the model’s growing impact to the collaborative approach of OWC and the dedication of local coordinators.
Since its inception in 2019, the Buvuma oil palm project has achieved the planting of 2,600 hectares out of a planned 8,584. The first harvest, recorded in October 2024, has sparked optimism for the project’s future, despite ongoing hurdles.
