Shs500 billion wasted on anti- poverty projects, says Museveni

President Museveni  

By Stephen Kafeero

In Summary

Mr Museveni cited programmes such as National Agricultural Advisory Services and Northern Uganda Social Action Fund where funds have been squandered.

Kampala- President Museveni has revealed that more than Shs500 billion the government has been injecting in wealth creation projects has not had the required impact on reducing poverty in homesteads because the money has not been properly utilised.

The President made the remarks while addressing NRM leaders at district level, RDCs and MPs from Karamoja and Lango at State House Entebbe, on Friday.

“The country has got many social and economic problems because the families are poor. Empower the families to come out of poverty,’’ a statement from State House quoted the President telling the NRM leaders.

Mr Museveni cited programmes such as National Agricultural Advisory Services and Northern Uganda Social Action Fund where funds have been squandered.
Presiding over the official opening of Entebbe Miracle Centre Church recently, the President said government had been putting more than Shs450 billion in development programmes annually without much impact on the communities.

According to the State House statement, Mr Museveni said it is the reason he chose the army to take over the poverty alleviation programmes which has failed for a long time.

He also urged political leaders to empower Ugandan families to have a stable economic base through development programmes.
“Ugandans are faced with many social and economic challenges including lack of school fees because of household poverty that afflict many families,” Mr Museveni said.

Anti-poverty campaign
The President has been meeting leaders from different regions briefing them on strategies that should be consolidated to alleviate household poverty and unemployment challenges in the country.

“The problems that Uganda has faced started way back after the country achieved independence from colonial rule because political leaders of that time promoted sectarianism of religion, tribe and gender chauvinism as well as marginalisation of the youth and the disabled,” he said.
Mr Museveni said the government will soon complete the extension of electricity and roads in Karamoja region and added that more funds have been secured for the works.