In a ceremony held on January 2, President Yoweri Museveni inaugurated a monument in Rushere Town Council, Kiruhura District, dedicated to recognizing his significant contributions to the development of the Greater Ankole region. The monument, constructed by the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Engineers Brigade, stands as a testament to President Museveni’s efforts in transforming the region’s socio-economic landscape.
The focal point of the ceremony was President Museveni’s pivotal role in encouraging cattle farmers in the cattle corridor to transition from traditional practices to modern dairy farming. He emphasized the importance of abandoning nomadism, settling in one place, and adopting zero grazing for enhanced socio-economic transformation. President Museveni expressed concern about the declining progress in the cattle corridor, particularly in the shift from free-range grazing to zero grazing and wealth fragmentation following the demise of family heads.
Addressing the cattle farmers, President Museveni underscored dairy farming as the key to alleviating poverty. He urged farmers to embrace the practice, highlighting that substantial income could be generated from a small piece of land through zero grazing.
Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja commended President Museveni for gracing the unveiling ceremony of the monument. He acknowledged the President’s efforts in educating the people of Ankole, enabling them to shift from subsistence farming to income-generating activities, thereby fostering economic development. Ssempijja praised the President for successfully conveying this message to regions beyond Ankole.
Deputy Chief of Defense Forces, Lt. Gen. Peter Elwelu, expressed gratitude to President Museveni for his instrumental role in bringing development to Greater Ankole. He assured, on behalf of the UPDF, that they would safeguard the peace established by the NRM government, preventing any attempts to destabilize the region’s progress.
This ceremony not only celebrated the unveiling of a monument but also highlighted the enduring impact of President Museveni’s vision and initiatives in transforming the socio-economic landscape of Greater Ankole and beyond.
