The youth of Busoga region have been urged to actively participate in agricultural activities to improve their household incomes.
Luwero Triangle state minister, Alice Kaboyo, emphasized this message while overseeing the distribution of 52,746 hoes valued at sh580m.
Addressing the audience at Busoga Square in Jinja city on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, Kaboyo also cautioned against high birth rates and alcoholism among the youth.
The event attracted district chairpersons, Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs), veterans, and members of the Busoga Parliamentary Caucus from the region’s 12 districts.
Kaboyo highlighted Busoga’s fertile land and conducive environment, urging the energetic youth to engage in productive agricultural practices using the distributed hand hoes.
She expressed optimism that with proper utilization of resources, the narrative of Busoga being impoverished could become a thing of the past. Additionally, Kaboyo stressed the importance of sustainable management of swamps in the region.
For districts like Mayuge and Bugiri, as well as island districts like Namanyingo, Kaboyo recommended the cultivation of oil palm trees, which could serve as a long-term source of income.
She emphasized the environmental benefits of oil palm trees, suggesting they could replace pine trees contributing to environmental degradation.
Kaboyo revealed collaborative efforts between her ministry and the Busoga Consortium, under the patronage of Rebecca Kadaga, to advocate for special government programs tailored to the region’s needs.
Idi Isabirye, Chairperson of the Busoga Parliamentary Caucus, called for affirmative action programs to address the region’s unique challenges and prioritize its development.
Elijah Kagoda, Chairperson of the region’s chairpersons, emphasized the potential of empowering youth with hoes to redirect their focus from urban migration to productive agriculture.
Jinja Resident District Commissioner, Richard Gulume, emphasized the importance of cultivating fast-maturing food crops to combat food insecurity and restore Busoga’s reputation as a food basket.
He cautioned against land fragmentation and the conversion of agricultural land for sugarcane cultivation, which has exacerbated food insecurity.
Peter Okeyah, MP for Sigulu Islands, a predominantly fishing community, urged the ministry to provide legal fishing gear to enable sustainable fishing practices.
