Museveni Meets Lango Leaders: Boosting Regional Unity & Development

President Museveni ‌Calls for Cultural Preservation, Economic Empowerment in Lango Region

Entebbe, Uganda – President Yoweri Museveni recently engaged with cultural and religious⁤ leaders, emphasizing the critical need to bolster local languages, cultural heritage, education,​ healthcare, and peace within Uganda, particularly ⁣focusing on the Lango sub-region. The meeting, originally scheduled alongside campaign ‌activities, underscored the President’s commitment to holistic national progress.

This article provides a detailed overview of‍ the key takeaways from the President’s address and the reciprocal expressions of gratitude from lango leaders.

balancing⁤ Tradition with Modernity: A​ Call to Cultural Action

President Museveni stressed the importance of actively promoting Uganda’s diverse local languages. While English serves as the official language and Swahili as a regional one, he highlighted a gap in the formal⁢ education⁤ system regarding vernacular instruction.

“The cultural ⁢institution can definitely look at that⁣ angle ‌of ⁢the language when the government may not have time to do it,” he stated, advocating for ‌a collaborative approach to language preservation.

Beyond language,‌ the President urged a ‍critical evaluation of ⁤conventional ⁤practices. He championed the abandonment ⁤of​ harmful ‍customs ⁣while ‌concurrently advocating for the preservation of ⁤beneficial ones. ⁢He specifically cited his own efforts to reform Banyankole​ traditions that historically disadvantaged women.

* Addressing Gender Inequality: President Museveni detailed his commitment⁤ to ensuring economic independence​ for women within ⁤the Banyankole community, challenging a system where women were perpetually reliant on‌ male relatives.
* Cultural⁢ Audit: He encouraged similar assessments within other communities, focusing on practices related ⁣to marriage and inheritance.

Economic empowerment: Transforming Lango Through Agriculture

A ‍central theme of the President’s address was economic empowerment, specifically for the people of Lango.‌ He ⁢advocated for a shift towards modern, ‍wealth-generating agricultural practices.

“We need modern wealth based ‍on money,depending on the land holding,choose the right enterprise for​ the⁤ family,” he explained.

He ‌highlighted ‍the potential of high-value crops like coffee and fruits:

* Coffee: ‌ With modest irrigation, an acre of coffee can yield up to UGX 18 million annually.
* Fruits: Fruit farming can generate ⁢even higher returns, possibly reaching UGX 30 million per acre.

The President emphasized the ​foundational importance of ‍land management:

*⁣ ​ Land ​Security: He urged communities ⁢to fence their land, fostering a‍ sense of ownership‍ and enabling⁣ controlled agricultural ⁢practices.
* Infrastructure development: Secure land boundaries are a prerequisite for implementing irrigation, fertilizer ‌use, and pasture ‌development.

He also ⁢called upon leaders to actively promote education and healthcare‌ within their communities, emphasizing direct engagement with ⁣the population.

Peace and Security: Acknowledging Past⁣ Struggles, Building a Stable Future

The meeting ‌also served‍ as an⁤ possibility to acknowledge the past challenges faced by​ the Lango sub-region.‍ His highness Odongo Okune,a prominent Lango leader,expressed profound gratitude to President Museveni for restoring peace and security.

“You rid Lango of state-inspired violence of ‌the 1970s and early 1980s,⁤ cattle rustling ⁣and numerous insurgencies like those of Kony, Lakwena that had caused death, ⁤and mass internal displacement⁤ of communities,” Okune stated.

He further‍ lauded⁢ the President’s commitment to development initiatives within the region, recognizing their positive impact on the ⁣lives of the people of⁤ Lango. ⁤ ⁣Okune also thanked the President for the support shown during‍ recent campaign activities.

A Collaborative Path​ Forward

President Museveni’s address underscored a vision ⁢of national development rooted in cultural​ preservation, economic empowerment, and lasting peace. The call for collaboration between government, cultural institutions, religious leaders, and ​local communities signals a commitment‍ to a holistic and⁤ inclusive approach to building a stronger, more prosperous Uganda.

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Disclaimer: this⁤ article is based on ⁤publicly available information from the provided text and aims to provide ‍a comprehensive‍ and insightful analysis ​of the event.