By KJohn Alinaitwe | Ntoroko District, Uganda

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has called upon cultural and religious leaders across Uganda to take a more active role in the country’s fight against poverty, urging them to go beyond tradition and sermons to offer practical economic guidance to their communities.

Speaking on Monday during a visit to the Rwenzori Sub-region, President Museveni emphasized that poverty in Uganda is not a result of lack, but a failure in leadership at various levels, including spiritual and traditional institutions.

“People being poor in a country that has everything is a big mistake and it’s largely a failure in leadership,” he said. “I’m not just talking about political leaders, but also religious and cultural ones. These should be like parents to the people.”

The President questioned the credibility of leaders who claim moral authority yet fail to guide their communities toward economic self-sufficiency. “How can you be a pastor or cultural leader when you can’t even feed the flock with real solutions?” he asked.

The remarks were made in Ntoroko District, where President Museveni launched a tour of the Rwenzori Sub-region to assess the impact of the Parish Development Model (PDM), a government initiative aimed at lifting Ugandans out of subsistence farming and poverty.

He visited Mr. Steven Kisembo, a 34-year-old PDM beneficiary from Kisungu II Cell, West Ward in Kibuuku Town Council. Thanks to the program, Mr. Kisembo now owns 18 goats. Impressed by his progress, the President donated Shs 10 million to help him acquire two more acres of land to expand his goat project.

Mr. Kisembo expressed gratitude for the initiative, saying it had significantly improved his livelihood and that of others in his community.

President Museveni reiterated the importance of embracing the NRM’s economic message, stating that Uganda is a country with vast potential. “Take goats, for example. They can produce two or even three kids in just six months. This country is easy to work in,” he said.

He also reminded the public that the NRM’s development agenda is based on experience, not theory. Highlighting the success of the Four Acre Model introduced in 1996, Museveni said it provides a practical framework for small-scale but profitable farming: one acre for coffee, one for fruits, one for pasture, and one for food crops.

“We also introduced Entandikwa to give people a starting point,” he added, referring to a government initiative providing initial capital to small farmers.

The President framed his leadership as a spiritual calling, saying,

I am working for God. He gave me the blessing to lead, and if I mislead or fail to help the people, He can punish me.

Museveni concluded by urging local leaders to intensify monitoring of PDM implementation and pledged continued government support to make the program more impactful.

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