By Mukembo Wilfred
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged Uganda’s youth to actively embrace commercial agriculture as a strategic path toward national prosperity and the eradication of poverty.
Speaking on Friday during the belated International Youth Day celebrations held at Masindi Golf and Sports Club, the President emphasized that Uganda cannot achieve true socio-economic transformation while the majority of its citizens remain trapped in subsistence farming.
To address this, Museveni promoted his “four-acre model” as a practical framework for wealth creation. The model dedicates one acre to coffee, another to fruit trees, a third to staple food crops, and the fourth to pasture for livestock. He explained that the approach also integrates opportunities for poultry, piggery, and fish farming, offering multiple income streams and supporting sustainable livelihoods.
The President also condemned the ongoing theft of medicines from government health facilities, warning that such acts sabotage healthcare service delivery, even as the government continues to invest in drug supplies.
Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development Betty Amongi highlighted several government initiatives aimed at empowering the youth politically, socially, and economically. Among them is digital-skills training to enhance self-employment and competitiveness in the modern job market.
State Minister for Youth Balaam Barugahara encouraged young Ugandans to take full advantage of key government empowerment programmes such as the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP), the Parish Development Model (PDM), and Emyooga.
The event, held under the theme “Youth Advancing Multilateral Cooperation through Technology and Partnerships,” celebrated the central role of Uganda’s youth in innovation and development, in line with the country’s Vision 2040.
