Museveni Criticizes Busoga Leaders for Land Fragmentation, Urges Crop Diversification

President Yoweri Museveni has expressed strong disapproval of Busoga’s leaders, accusing them of neglecting their duty to educate communities on sustainable land management. He pointed to severe land fragmentation as a major contributor to the sub-region’s persistent poverty, noting that many households now possess plots too small for significant agricultural output.

During a thanksgiving ceremony in Buyende District, Museveni argued that leaders have been too preoccupied with internal disputes rather than providing practical guidance on maximizing the use of limited land resources. He specifically criticized the region’s heavy dependence on sugarcane farming, calling it a “mistake” and urging a shift towards more profitable agricultural ventures like zero-grazing dairy farming and other cash-generating activities.

Local leaders, such as Iganga District NRM Chairperson Hajji Abubakar Walubi, acknowledged the severity of the issue, stating that landholdings in some parts of Busoga average a mere 0.6 acres, far below the threshold for the government’s four-acre commercial farming model. They also highlighted the ongoing dispute over the South Busoga Forest Reserve, where residents hope for land allocation but have instead faced evictions.

Further concerns raised included the unfulfilled pledge of Shs1 billion and the long-standing issue of the Mayuge forest reserve. The President also addressed security presence on the lakes, assuring fishermen that licenses would be issued to qualified individuals, prioritizing those living near the shores. He encouraged diversification of income sources beyond agriculture, drawing parallels with developed economies.

Minister Milly Babalanda, the event’s host, appealed for infrastructure development, including the Amba Coat–Kamuli–Bukungu road and the upgrading of Bukungu Health Centre III. She also noted a slowdown in farming activities due to fears of displacement by a planned nuclear power project. Museveni later pledged support for dairy farmers in Buyende by providing refrigerators and a milk-cooling tank.