President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has contributed Shs 200 million towards the construction of Lwengo Muslim District Headquarters and Health Center IV.
“Since I'm one of the people who are in government and have got some capacity, I will now start with contributing Shs 200 million. If that money is not enough after all of us have collected, you will let me know I will add on,” President Museveni said.
The President made the contribution on Thursday 21st March 2024 during the fundraising ceremony for the construction of Lwengo Muslim District Headquarters and Health Center IV at Mbirizi, Lwengo Town Council.
President Museveni however explained that the fundraising would have made more sense if all the homesteads in Lwengo had stable incomes and were able to contribute relatively large sums of money that would enable the project to be constructed easily and quickly.
“I'm happy that the Muslim community is trying to build a health center and headquarters for their own administrative Center and that is why we are here to support them,” he said.
“Fundraising means you all contribute but now if you have got a few rich people that is not real fundraising. In the 1950s, my father Mzee Amos Kaguta and his colleagues in our village in Ntungamo used to drink local beer at only Shs5 and here they had to contribute equally to buy the local beer. Therefore, we can contribute what we can, but it will make more sense if all homesteads have stable incomes, and they are able to contribute something big.”
The President also permitted the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Engineers Brigade to carry out the construction works of the project worth Shs1 billion.
President Museveni's permission followed a request by Lwengo District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Cissy Namujju to have UPDF involved in the project.
On the other hand, President Museveni was also happy to note that a good number of the people of Lwengo had listened to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) wealth creation message.
“As many people were saying, the NRM has a clear treatment for the problems of the people of Uganda right from the beginning. However, for some reason, people were not listening to our message for a long time but when you listen, definitely you will gain,” he stressed.
“When I was driving here, I stopped at a place called Kiswera, I was looking at the gardens and I saw a number of people with coffee, and I was very happy with that. That is different from the way it was in the past. You remember we were here during the fighting but very few had coffee. Therefore, I want to thank people like Col. Nsamba. He was injured when we were from attacking Kabamba Barracks in the 1980s in Kikandwa forest near Semuto and he was actually near where I was. He lost his arm, but it seems he has done a good job in distributing coffee in this area and all those people who have listened to our message,” he added.
President Museveni further disclosed that people without land or not interested in agriculture, can go into other projects like artisanship to create wealth.
The President also reiterated his call for free education for all in government schools.
“We started UPE in 1997 but as Kitatta was saying some of the people did not understand the meaning of this free education. We knew there were very many families which cannot afford education, that is why we said if parents cannot afford, let the government pay for their children. Therefore, those who are bringing back charges in government schools are making a very big mistake. Let the children study for free,” he said.
The outgoing Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja commended President Museveni for being able to unite Ugandans irrespective of their different tribes and religions.
The Lwengo District Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Cissy Namujju thanked President Museveni for his visionary leadership that has led to the development of Lwengo and Uganda as a whole.
The Lwengo District LC5 Chairperson, Mr. Kitatta Ibrahim welcomed the President to Lwengo and thanked him for his support toward the district.
“Your Excellency, we thank you for giving us a specialised hospital in Lwengo and once the construction works are done, we shall invite you to commission it.”
The Grand Mufti of Uganda, Sheikh Shaban Ramadan Mubajje also thanked H.E the President for his immense contribution toward the development of Uganda.
The function was also attended by the Minister of State for Microfinance, Hon. Haruna Kasolo, Bukoto South MP, Hon. Twaha Kagabo, Bukoto West MP, Hon. Muhammad Muyanja Ssentayi, Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) Chairperson, Prof. Muhammad Lubega Kisambira, local government leaders, religious leaders, among others.