By Wilber Muhwezi Kasibante [MK]
In Bushenyi——
President Yoweri Museveni has revealed that tarmac roads are useless when one is poor and can’t reduce or take away poverty from the majority poor.
Mr Museveni said this yesterday evening while addressing district leaders from 12 districts of Ankole at Bushenyi playground.
He noted that poverty and tarmac roads are completely different. He added that riches are in remote areas.
He gave an example in 1967 after receiving his pay as a licensed teacher, he left Mbarara with tarmac roads and went deep in Rwakitura Now Kiruhura district and bought huge chunks of land.
“There was even now simple road of marram but I became rich then” President Museveni revealed.
He told the leaders that wherever he constructed tarmac roads in some areas Ugandans are absolutely poor to the extent that they walk on the same tarmac roads bare footed which more dangerous than walking on marram roads.
He urged leaders to tell people to work hard and not to get stuck on tarmac roads. He said therse roads don’t chase poverty.
On the other hand the Ankole parliamentary Group chairman Hon. Bazil Bataringaya had shortly presented the sub-region’s memorandum which contained many tarmac roads to be constructed in Ankole.
Buhweju district chairman Deo Atuhaire Omuhatizi told the president that he had taken ten years without visiting Buhweju and leaders plus residents were wondering why the president had abandoned them.
However he answered chairman Deo that he never got lost but went for reorganization and will soon visit Buhweju district.
The Ankole leaders meeting was attended by all top leaders who the vice president Maj. Jessica Alupo, PM Robbinah Nambanja, deputy speaker Thomas Tayebwa, NRM vice chairman western and minister of ICT Dr. Chris Baryomunsi. Others are tycoons Micheal Mawanda, Hassan Basajabalaba and many other dignitaries.