By Walimbwa Moses
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged farmers in Sheema District to embrace irrigation and commercial agriculture to mitigate the effects of drought, increase productivity and boost household incomes.
Speaking on October 24, 2026, at a thanksgiving ceremony for Prof. Ephraim Kamuntu, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Sheema County South Member of Parliament, at Bugongi Town Council Playground, Museveni said farmers should tap underground water resources in parts of Ankole and Kigezi to sustain agricultural production during dry seasons.
He noted that prolonged drought had affected banana plantations in Sheema and other areas, underscoring the need for farmers to adopt irrigation to sustain production.
The President also encouraged farmers to improve livestock management by growing pasture, applying fertilisers and adopting zero grazing instead of relying on uncontrolled free-range grazing.
He said proper pasture management and zero grazing could improve livestock productivity and enable farmers to keep more animals on limited land.
Four-Acre Model
Museveni reiterated the importance of the four-acre model, which he said was introduced in the 1996 National Resistance Movement (NRM) manifesto to help households transition from subsistence farming to commercial production.
Under the model, farmers are encouraged to allocate one acre to coffee, another to fruit growing, a third to pasture for livestock and the fourth to food crops for household consumption.
He added that families could supplement their incomes through poultry and piggery, while those living near wetlands could also engage in fish farming.
Museveni urged local leaders to intensify mobilisation efforts and reach households that had not yet embraced commercial production.
“You leaders are the eyes of the people you lead. Reach out to the lowest people in the village and preach the message of wealth creation,” he said.
Development Support
The President pledged two tractors to Sheema District to help address challenges related to poor pasture quality.
He also pledged government support for the construction of Kitagata Hospital and other development projects. In addition, he pledged Shs300 million towards the completion of St Peter’s Cathedral Bweranyangi, a Church of Uganda project in neighbouring Bushenyi District.
On family wealth, Museveni advised families to consider registering companies through which they could jointly own property and shares for the benefit of their beneficiaries, helping to prevent the fragmentation of family assets across generations.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa thanked the President for allocating five square miles of land in Ruhengyere, Kiruhura District, to the Ankole sub-region for industrial development and job creation.
Tayebwa also appealed for government intervention to support Igara Tea Factory, which he said was facing financial difficulties and risked being taken over by a bank. He said the President had directed the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to address the factory’s tax arrears.
Prof. Kamuntu thanked Museveni for attending the thanksgiving ceremony and commended government wealth creation programmes, including the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga, saying the initiatives had benefited communities in Sheema.
He pledged continued cooperation with the Government to advance development programmes and ensure that they reach people at the grassroots.
The ceremony was attended by government officials, religious leaders and local leaders.