President Yoweri Museveni has disclosed that the Government will use gas extracted from the Lake Albert Region in Western Uganda for processing iron ore into finished products. The President was addressing a public rally that was held in Rubuguri Town Council in Bufumbira North Constituency in Kisoro district. The President is currently on a tour of the districts that comprise the Kigezi Sub-Region in South Western Uganda.
“There is a lot of iron ore in Kigezi Region. Plans are underway to tap the gas from Lake Albert Region to enable the processing of iron ore and get iron,” he said. He noted that some people were bent on selling iron ore as a raw material which fetches only US$30 (thirty dollars) per ton on the international market. He said this would be a big loss to the country since considering that a processed ton of iron currently fetches US$700 (seven hundred).
The President told wananchi that iron bars and other related products were major components in the construction of infrastructure with particular reference to hydro-electric power dams. He, therefore, reiterated that the NRM Government would go all the way to ensure that the iron ore which will be mined in Uganda is processed into final products to enable the country get maximum financial gain from that resource.
Mr. Museveni was pleased to note that the people of Bufumbira North Constituency had learnt the gospel of ensuring wealth in their homes. He observed that many homes heeded his call to promote their incomes. He said that a family was assured of generating Shs 5.6 million per acre of cultivated tea per year adding that with an average of 3 acres of land per family people could earn good income through full commitment to modern agriculture. He expressed happiness that a good number of families in the area were earning at least Shs.20 million per annum.
He advised the people to cultivate 2 acres of tea and one of Irish potatoes. He advised those owning bigger chunks of land to also rear dairy cows in order to ensure milk for their families and sell the surplus. He said that they have the opportunity to earn good income by rearing poultry for egg production and for the non-Muslims to rear pigs.
President Museveni asked the people to stop the vice of land fragmentation and encouraged them to consolidate land so that they only share the profits accruing from the various production activities from it instead of fragmenting it. He observed that a number of families have fragmented their land upon the death of their heads and said this was a very bad practice that should be discarded.
He introduced the UPDF Officers who are supervising ‘Operation Wealth Creation’ in the area and said that he resolved to assign them the duty of promoting agricultural production after NAADS officials misused the funds budgeted for the purpose. He revealed that he gave out Shs.20 million from NAADS budget to Kisoro district for purchase of tea seedlings. He assured the people that soldiers would further facilitate them with free seedlings for coffee and other products including free livestock.
The President assured the people of the area that the Government would allow the construction of a tarmac road to link Kisoro with Kanungu traversing along the Uganda – Democratic Republic of Congo border. He also announced that another road would be constructed to link Kisoro with Kanungu through Rutenga. He revealed that these steps were being taken so that Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, being a natural habitat for mountain gorillas, is not interfered with as the sanctuary is a vital component of the tourism sector in Uganda.
The Prime Minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, revealed that the people of Bufumbira North Constituency have become rich because of the NRM Government’s efforts to promote poverty eradication programmes.
Bufumbira North Constituency MP, Hon. John Nizeyimana, reported that his constituents have resolved to have President Museveni as the sole Presidential Candidate in next year’s General Elections.