Buikwe, Uganda — Fifty individuals, including 11 women, have been awarded medals of honour for distinguished service to the country during the 2026 International Labour Day celebrations held at Nkoyoyo Boarding Primary School in Buikwe District.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni presided over the event, urging Ugandans to focus on wealth creation as the foundation for sustainable employment. The celebrations were held under the theme: “Safeguarding Uganda’s Progress: Empowering the Workforce and Promoting Decent Work for Competitive Enterprise.”
The President said job opportunities already exist within agriculture if properly utilised, pointing to successful small-scale models.
“The issue is not jobs, it is about following government advice,” he said.
He cited Mr. Richard Nyakana of Fort Portal, who reportedly earns over UGX 200 million annually from just 1.2 acres through poultry and dairy farming, and employs 12 people. He also referenced other smallholder successes, including Basangwa in Kamuli, who built a profitable poultry enterprise on a 50 by 100 plot.
Museveni said Uganda’s 40 million acres of arable land could transform employment if more citizens adopt similar models, including the four-acre farming approach.
He cautioned against poorly planned business ventures and high-interest commercial loans, advising instead the use of Uganda Development Bank financing. He also highlighted the Parish Development Model (PDM), noting plans to double its funding while urging repayment discipline to sustain the programme.
On housing, the President pledged government-led development of affordable housing near industrial parks, with the National Housing and Construction Company stepping in where private investors do not.
He also promised reforms in education to address concerns over irrelevant courses, saying: “We are really going to take it up,” he assured.
Industrial growth and infrastructure
Museveni attributed the rise of over 5,000 factories to sustained peace and investment in electricity, recalling past power shortages and government efforts to expand generation capacity.
He called on Parliament to support key infrastructure projects including power expansion, railway construction, oil refinery development, and cross-border transport systems, alongside increased agricultural funding.
He also urged a stronger transition of Ugandans into the money economy and called for better regulation of fisheries and wetlands to ensure sustainability.
On savings, the President raised concern over underutilisation of National Social Security Fund (NSSF) resources, suggesting investment in infrastructure such as toll roads, including the Kampala–Jinja expressway.
