President Yoweri Museveni has attributed Uganda’s improved life expectancy to immunization programmes and improved standards of living.
Uganda’s life expectancy now stands at 63 years up from 43 in 1986.
He, however, said more efforts should be expended to catch up with other countries like Japan where average life expectancy is 79 years.
The President made the revelation on Tuesday while addressing leaders from Kigezi Sub-Region at Kigezi College Butobere in Kabale Municipality.
Kigezi Sub-Region comprises 6 Districts – Kabale, Kisoro, Kanungu, Rukungiri, Rubanda and Rukiga.
Museveni who is currently in South Western Uganda to sensitize the wananchi on wealth and job creation campaign, also disclosed that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government will work to enable the manufacturing of solar powered water pumps to ensure the realization of both sustainable irrigation and agro-production.
“We will support the efforts of solar pumps to help you on irrigation,” he said.
He told the area leaders that government has put aside enough funds that will be disbursed through different specialized categories of people and groups, such as youth and women funds on top of the known Operation Wealth Creation progaramme. He advised the people to endeavour and follow the stipulated projects in order to benefit the intended beneficiaries.
President Museveni also informed the leaders that Uganda spends US$200 million annually on the importation of papers adding that efforts to establish a paper making industry is under way. He was happy to note that the local population are planting trees in large numbers saying that tress are raw materials for the paper making industry.
He observed that bamboo trees are a better option for the industry and called for more attention to be placed on the product. He also said government is intensifying efforts to add value to our produce by setting up mini-industrial parks zone by zone adding that the funds for that purpose are very much available.
President Museveni used the occasion to warn against land fragmentation saying the practice disables land for production. He advised the people of Kigezi to use the method of shares instead of dividing land physically.
Kigezi Sub-Region leaders on their part, presented their resolution of support to President Museveni as their candidate come 2021.
The resolution that was read by Kabale District LC5 Chairperson, Mr. Patrick Kaihwa, saluted the President for his tireless efforts to fight household poverty to which strategy the leaders pledged total support in order to realize development.
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