President Museveni on Thursday launched the first Bukedi development plan intended to alleviate household poverty.
The plan was developed by a Think Tank composed of eminent persons in the seven districts of the Bukedi region including Budaka, Butaleja, Butebo, Busia, Kibuku, Pallisa, and Tororo. The region is one of the poorest according to the recent poverty report.
The per capita income of the region stands at a rate of 43.7% with the GDP Per capita of $135 (Shs 488,866) compared to the national GDP Per capita of $1185 (Shs. 4,291,157).
President Museveni in 2011 directed the Science and Technology Minister, Dr. Monica Musenero to help him find a way to support the Bukedi Sub-region out of subsistence farming or what he continues to refer to as “Nkolera Kida Kyonka)
The Think Tank comprising Prof. John David Kabasa, Dr. James Kisaale, former RDC, Thomas Okoth Nyalulu, and district leader in the region hopes that once funded, the plan execution of this plan will make a substantial impact on household income from less than Ugx 1,000,000 to Ugx 30,000,000 annually.
Strategic Plan for Bukedi Sub-Region Accelerated Wealth Creation (2024-2040) presents an ambitious but well-researched roadmap designed to elevate household incomes to Ugx 30 million or more per year by 2040.
A renowned development economist at the Economic Policy Research Centre who asked for anonymity told URN that such collective efforts can have an impact given that resources a pooled in one basket to address an issue based on timelines.
The economist said he needed to read the entire document to authoritatively comment or offer advice. But he generally welcomed the idea that the idea of Think Tanks was being recognized.
The 15-year plan was costed at UD 173 million or 657.36 billion. The plan is anchored in the strategy of economic empowerment at the household level by adopting a science-based approach to planning (Kibalo, value chain analysis, enterprise mix, etc.) at all levels.
It envisages the adoption of perennial cash crops like Coffee and Cocoa.
It also seeks to promote the adoption of sustainable production methods through the promotion of nutrient recycling, environmental conservation, and irrigation.
The leaders in Bukedi aspire to increase the number of households commercially engaged in the cocoa value chain to at least 75% by 2040.
They also aspire to see the number of households commercially engaged in the poultry value chain to at least 75% by 2040 and to increase the number of households commercially engaged in the Coffee value chain to at least 75% by 2040.
While launching the plan at the launch of the plan at Petete Primary School, Butebo District, President Museveni urged Ugandans against land fragmentation. He said many families have tended to fragment land whenever the family head dies.
The brains behind the plan are suggesting a phased approach to implementation. The first phase will focus on activities that will enable the attainment of a household wealth creation leap of UGX 5,000,000 per annum.
