Senior Presidential Advisor on Defence and Security, Gen Caleb Akandwanaho aka Salim Saleh, who doubles as the Commander of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) Project, has called on UPDF officers to use the acquired knowledge to liberate the country from poverty.
The retired General made the remarks yesterday at the closure of the Induction Training Course of UPDF officers (where he was the Guest of Honor) held in the Main Hall of Makerere University.
He appreciated the university administration for agreeing to train the soldiers saying, the information passed on to them would later help in improving agriculture and livelihoods of Ugandans.
He then congratulated the officers for finishing the course. He said government was developing strategies to increase production through improved planting materials, animal stock and irrigation, among others.
“It is important to appreciate that raising smallholder agricultural productivity is only possible if smallholders can sell their products at a profit and make the necessary investments to improve productivity,” Gen Saleh said.
He added: “if a farmer is unable to make a profit, he/she cannot invest in increasing productivity; he will not purchase fertilizers; he/she will not purchase fungicides etc.”
He observed that agricultural markers in Uganda and the whole of Africa were underdeveloped and inefficient citing problems like narrow markets, low farm-gate price, high end-user price, weak farmers’ organizations, lack of market information, lack of affordable finance, organizing and empowering smallholders, reducing systemic barriers etc.
He was, however, hopeful that NAADS can address these problems by mobilizing farmers, building the capacity of farmers’ groups, establishing better storage facilities, availing accurate market information, among other interventions.
More so, the UPDF has partnered with Miss Uganda Foundation to involve the youth in productive enterprises that will help eliminate poverty from their homes and later the country at large.
Earlier on, the Training Coordinator, Dr Denis Mpairwe, had said the 14-day course included both theoretical classwork and practical lessons where officers visited a number of demonstration farms in and outside Kampala.
According to Dr Mpairwe, the officers covered crop production (crop protection, fertilizer application and tree nurseries), animal production (bee keeping, poultry, goats and sheep management, piggery, dairy, animal feeds and feeding), agribusiness which covered farm accounts, record keeping, marketing and community empowerment.
“They also covered machinery, gender, climate change, trends in NAADS, monitoring agricultural programs and agricultural practices and related laws,” he explained.
Col Matthias Sewankambo who represented the trainees, thanked Makerere administration that accepted to conduct the training and the lecturers who availed the officers with valuable knowledge as far as agriculture is concerned.
On his part, Prof Bernard Bashaasha, the Principal College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, thanked the officers for staying focused and completing the course successfully.
He further praised Gen Saleh for working hard for Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) which he called a “unique and unusual business approach”.
The Vice Chancellor, Prof John Ddumba Ssentamu, appreciated the monitoring role played by the minister for Luweero Triangle, Hon Sarah Kataike, during the training.
He also appreciated Gen Saleh for initiating the program and entrusting it with the Ivory Tower for execution. He said it is not the first time Makerere University is partnering with the armed forces citing the 2012 training program which involved the police in fighting crime and preserving the environment as well as making a mobile fruit processor.
Speaking at the same occasion, the minister for Luweero Triangle, Hon Sarah Kataike, revealed that Operation Wealth Creation has roots in her ministry because it was prior meant for veterans.
“We can use the armed forces to transform Uganda from peasantry to a modern economy. We need to move from subsistence to mechanized agriculture,” she said.
She urged the officers to build teams with local administrative structures to improve service delivery.
She called on them to promote community participation, accountability, keep records, consult, identify with the communities they will be serving and desist from partisan politics.
In his turn, the Chancellor Makerere University, Prof Mondo Kagonyera said he was grateful for the opportunity to address powerful members of the armed forces who have improved the relationship between the national army and the university which had worsened in the past regimes.
“I remember Makerere students marching on knees along tarmac roads at the command of the national army many years ago,” he recalled, adding that he was humbled by the discipline exhibited by the officers during their two-week stay at the university.
He commended Gen Saleh’s “heroic efforts in trying to increase food production in this country”.
“One of Africa’s biggest problems is food yet blessed with the greatest resources. However, this is caused by ignorance-the worst disease that Africans suffer from. I thank you Gen Saleh for this innovation and for picking the most versatile people to spearhead it,” Prof Kagonyera said.
He, however, lashed at the critics of Operation Wealth Creation Project saying that they are plagued by traditionalism and hate innovation, the reason they claim the army cannot succeed in agriculture.
He said that President Yoweri Museveni was right to hand over agriculture to the army and that he was confident they would achieve remarkable results because UPDF is the most reformed organization in the country.
“What is right is that which works,” he pointed out, adding that Uganda is the most suited to produce food in the region and Africa.
He closed the ceremony by handing over certificates to the over 300 UPDF officers who attended the course.
The function was attended by senior staff of Makerere University, Dean of Students, government officials and other officials from various institutions