President Yoweri Museveni has expressed concern at the high level of corruption in the works ministry especially the road sector. He said that road contractors collude with government officials and then do shoddy work without sanction.

The President who was on a one day working visit in Kasese to promote the wealth creation campaign made the remarks yesterday at a public rally at Kyarumba sub-county headquarters in Bukonjo East county.

He said shoddy works have led to most of the roads being worn out before their expected life span, noting that as a result of corruption, the country did not get value for the trillions injected in thre raod sector as contractors continuously colluded with government officials to do shoddy work..

“I have been told that the Fort Portal – Kasese road is in that poor state because it was poorly done due to corruption and we have to reconstruct it after such a short time. This is unacceptable,” he said.

The President said he appointed a strict woman, Allen Kagina, to head Uganda National Roads Authority and that she asked him to appoint a judicial commission of inquiry which he did to bring the culprits to book.

“What is important for people to know is that whoever ate government money will have to pay it back on top of being punished in accordance with the law,” he said.

The President said that government has allocated 6.6 million shillings for the construction of a new and permanent bridge on River Nyamwamba which was washed away by the recent floods in the area.

He said the National Resistance Movement government has registered success in several sectors because of cohesive and strategic planning that prioritizes the most important sectors of the economy such as peace, roads, energy and human resource development.

“Many people have advocated for salary increase at the expense of infrastructure development but we had to be firm and resist the pressures because infrastructure developments have long term benefits to the economy,” he said.

The President assured Ugandans that their security is guaranteed because of the support offered by the citizens to the UPDF.

“I want to thank Ugandans for supporting the UPDF because you are the source of our army’s strength and I can assure you national peace is guaranteed,” he noted.

On education; the President said that due to different interventions and programmes, the national literacy rate is now at 78% and added that government had embarked on a programme of skilling Ugandans so as to create jobs.

Speaking about health service delivery, the President said that government was immunizing all children against 13 diseases including survival cancer and hepatitis B but warned the population against promiscuity that has seen a rise in new HIV/Aids infections.

 “As citizens your duty is to safeguard your lives, work to get out of poverty, promote peace and safeguard that peace by voting wisely and voting NRM that will guarantee that peace,” he said.

He noted that to overcome poverty Ugandans especially in rural areas needed to engage in modern agro production, adding that the reason UPDF officers were sent to all constituencies of Uganda was to supervise the wealth creation programme.

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President Yoweri Museveni has said that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government has successfully ensured peace and security around the country.

He said government has also accomplished the construction of several tarmac roads including the one from Malaba at the Kenyan border to Lamia at the Congo border and urged Ugandans to exploit the infrastructure for income generation and poverty eradication.

Museveni was yesterday speaking at the ceremony of commissioning the 104km Fort Portal – Bundibugyo – Lamia road, constructed at Shs226 billion, funded jointly by the Africa Development Bank (ADB) and the government of Uganda.

President Museveni also said the UPDF had defeated the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) who later fled to the Democratic Republic Congo where they have caused mayhem.

Further, he said government had provided improved health services and ensured a successful immunization programme, adding that several schools had also been built in Ntoroko and Bundibugyo districts, enabling children to go to school.

“We have developed the infrastructure, improved health and education among other things. You, the wanainchi have three duties to fulfill; eradication of poverty from your homes, caring for your health and voting for NRM,” he said and urged Ugandans to engage in commercial agricultural production for improved incomes.

On empowering the youth, the President said that Government’s plan is to provide skills that create employment and wealth.

The Executive Director of Uganda National Roads Authority Allen Kagina appealed to local leaders and the community to protect road assets, saying newly installed road signs are being vandalized thereby endangering motorists.

Ntoroko Woman MP Jennifer Mujungu, saluted President Museveni for the building of Fort Portal – Bundibugyo road assured him of support as the sole presidential candidate for NRM in the 2016 General Elections.

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An integrated Africa will ensure a bigger market for Uganda’s produce and make the African continent and its people prosperous,  

President Yoweri Museveni has said

“The government has already addressed most of the challenges including infrastructure development, health and education. We need to engage in commercial agriculture to improve incomes. The remaining challenge is integration of Africa. We have already moved forward with Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi and we are now one market,” Museveni said yesterday while addressing Kasese residents at Bwera Secondary School, Bwera subcounty in Kasese.

The President, who was on a one day working tour to promote operation wealth creation, urged the people of Kasese to engage in modern agro production for food security and improved incomes.

He noted that with integration of Africa the issue of markets for our products will be sorted adding that South Sudan had already applied to join the EAC while the Democratic Republic of Congo may join for the region to enjoy a wider market. He stressed the need for the common market saying that without it the country would be stuck with surplus produce especially milk and fruits among others.

On youth unemployment, Museveni said government will now focus on skills development by increasing the number of technical schools at the sub county level. He said graduates will be empowered with job creation skills to improve their incomes and cautioned them against reckless lifestyles.

Museveni later commissioned a government funded six classroom block and a library at Bwera Secondary School.

The Defense Minister Dr Crispus Kiyonga commended the President and the government for the development programmes that have transformed the region.

The Bishop of South Rwenzori Diocese Jackson Nzerebende Tendo presented a spear and shield to the President as a sign of defense and protection for the country.

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