By Adam Bukenya | Friday, May 23, 2025

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called on Ugandans to shift focus from the over-saturated public sector and embrace opportunities within the private sector, citing it as a more viable path to employment and wealth creation.

Speaking on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Wabinyonyi playground in Nakasongola Town Council, the President wrapped up his three-day assessment tour of the Parish Development Model (PDM) in Greater Luweero, emphasizing that the program is key to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.

“People waste a lot of time looking for government jobs. In a developing country like Uganda, there are far more opportunities in the private sector,” President Museveni said.

Private Sector: The Real Engine of Jobs

Museveni noted that Uganda has only 480,000 government jobs (including civil servants, teachers, security forces, and health workers), yet the population exceeds 46 million. This, he said, makes it impossible for government employment to meet national demand.

“If we use just seven million out of Uganda’s 40 million arable acres like Nyakana Richard did—and each acre creates 15 jobs—we would have 105 million jobs, more than our entire population,” Museveni calculated.

He cited examples of successful PDM beneficiaries:

• Hon. Fred Byamukama, Minister of State for Transport, who employs 26 people on his 4-acre farm.
• Nyakana Richard of Kabarole, who employs 15 people on just 1.2 acres.
• Joseph Ijara of Serere earns over UGX 800 million annually from eggs and milk on 2.5 acres.

Factories Outpacing Government in Employment

Museveni also highlighted that factories currently employ 1.2 million Ugandans, three times more than government institutions. He encouraged parents to guide their children toward careers in commercial farming, manufacturing, and service industries rather than waiting for elusive government jobs.

PDM as a Pathway to Financial Independence

The President reaffirmed his belief that PDM SACCOs (Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations) can evolve into multi-billion-shilling banks within a decade, provided communities take ownership. Beneficiaries receive UGX 1 million, to be repaid after two years with only UGX 120,000 interest.

However, he warned against mismanagement and favoritism:

“I hear complaints that some SACCO leaders are prioritizing friends and family. This happens because the rest of you are passive. Get involved—PDM is for every adult in the parish.”

Peace, Wealth, and Unity as Pillars of Progress

President Museveni emphasized six pillars for national transformation: peace, security, development, wealth, health, and education, stressing that they must be managed through patriotism and prioritization.

“Development without wealth creation is hollow. This Gulu road has been tarmacked for 60 years, yet poverty persists around it. We must fight household poverty, not just build infrastructure.”

He urged continued support for the National Resistance Movement (NRM), which he said champions national unity and economic empowerment.

Special Funds and Local Appeals

Museveni pledged a special fund for fishermen, following praise from leaders for the Fisheries Protection Unit that has restored order on Uganda’s lakes. Local MPs Mutebi Noah Wanzala and Zawedde Victorious appealed for a land fund to compensate absentee landlords and protect tenants from evictions.

Appreciation from Local Leaders

Hon. Godfrey Kiwanda Ssuubi, NRM’s Vice Chairperson for Central Region, thanked the President for the tour, calling it a gesture of appreciation for Greater Luweero’s efforts in wealth creation.

“We know he couldn’t meet everyone, but the President’s presence reaffirms his commitment to grassroots transformation,” Kiwanda said.

The ceremony drew a host of Ministers, MPs, and NRM leaders, all rallying behind the Parish Development Model as a blueprint for Uganda’s socio-economic progress.