President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has pledged full government support for Tooro Kingdom’s ambitious agricultural and youth empowerment initiatives, describing them as a timely intervention to uplift communities at the grassroots.
The President met His Majesty King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV and his delegation at State House, Entebbe. The royal delegation included Queen Mother Best Kemigisa, Princess Ruth Komuntale Akiiki, and Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire. They were joined by senior government officials, among them state minister for gender, labour, and social development in charge of children and youth affairs, Hon. Balaam Barugahara.
Prime Minister Rwomiire presented the Kingdom’s vision, unveiling a 4.6 billion shilling plan to establish coffee and cocoa nursery beds, demonstration gardens, and hatcheries in all nine counties of Tooro.
“What this does is it brings services close to the people, gives them income, and generates economic activities and employment,” he said. He also revealed that Queen Mother Best Kemigisa would serve as the brand ambassador for the initiative to boost visibility and mobilization.
President Museveni welcomed the proposals, particularly the coffee project, saying they align with government’s efforts to commercialize agriculture under the Parish Development Model (PDM).
“There’s no reason why the Kingdom can’t also do it. Government institutions have the seeds. The Kingdom can get them, multiply them, and distribute them for free to farmers,” he said.
The President reaffirmed government’s commitment to the 100 million shillings per parish allocation under PDM and announced an additional 15 million shillings to support local leaders.
“The Shs100 million is for the poor people. But leaders who are not part of the groups also need support. So, we are adding Shs15 million for them,” he said.
Museveni also issued a stern warning against misuse of PDM funds.
“Those stealing PDM money will vomit it. We shall lock them up until they return it. If there is monitoring and facts are established, we shall arrest them, and they will vomit the money,” the President warned.
Hon. Barugahara briefed the President on gaps identified during a Baraza in Fort Portal, citing cases where funds were disbursed to non-residents of parishes.
“In one parish, money was given to 50 people who didn’t belong there. This has been a very big problem. We need to fix these gaps and ensure transparency,” he said, promising stricter supervision and open dispute resolution.
The meeting also featured presentations from international partners. Mr. Nicolas Geoffrey, a UK-based special envoy of the Tooro Royal Family, revealed plans to build a university campus in Tooro focusing on agribusiness, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and tourism. He said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai had shown interest but required a formal letter of support from the Ugandan government.
Dr. Niel Holder, Tooro’s envoy from Barbados and a UN Global Peace Ambassador, emphasized opportunities for trade and cultural diplomacy between Uganda and the Caribbean.
“With Uganda Airlines now operating flights to Britain, we can connect Britain to Barbados and open up new avenues for tourism, food trade, and cultural diplomacy,” he said.
Rwomiire also unveiled a cost-effective Youth Economic Empowerment Program aimed at restoring the Kingdom’s relevance and complementing government service delivery.
“It is not just about the Kingdom but also about government delivery. We shall sensitize communities through radio, field visits, and kingdom structures. This is our mobilization strategy to ensure high impact and visibility,” he explained.
King Oyo’s delegation reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to working closely with the central government.
“With this initiative, we want to demonstrate that we are partners in delivering transformation to our people,” Rwomiire said.
President Museveni praised the Kingdom’s proactive approach, particularly its focus on parish-level interventions, saying this would ensure inclusivity and sustainability.