Uganda government should focus on industrialising the country to reduce poverty

Local citizens and local leaders have appealed to the government to set up better policies and plans which will help industrialise the country so that the incomes of the local citizens can be realised through creation of more employment opportunities and better prices for commodities because of value addition by industries.

The appeal was made during the ‘Orukurato’ radio discussion on Saturday 20^th July, 2013 under the topic, ‘Promoting rural industrialisation for improved livelihoods. What are the government plans? What’s the role of the local citizens? The 2 hour weekly live radio discussion held on Hits FM, Fort Portal discussing issues of accountability is supported by ToroDev.

“There is need for value addition to improve the incomes of the rural households” said Johnstone Baguma, the Executive Director while participating in the discussions as a panellist. Baguma however advised the government to boost commodity production, develop good infrastructure in terms of roads and electricity, ensure good leadership and develop better markets for the industrial goods to ensure sustainable industrialisation.

A maize mill

Other panellists who attended the radio discussion are Hon. Prosper Businge, the Kabarole district councillor and Mukwano Senyonjo, the coordinator of Mugusu Advocacy Forum which is a rural advocacy forum initiated by Mugusu Sub County local citizens with support from ToroDev to demand accountability and monitor service delivery.

Hon. Businge Prosper appealed to the local leaders and local citizens to put emphasis on developing tourism and agricultural related industries in the Rwenzori Region to effectively uplift the livelihoods of the rural citizens. Tourism and agriculture are the main economic activities carried out in the Rwenzori region.

“We need agro-based and tourism industries in the Rwenzori Region. We also need good policies which encourage industrialisation and a visionary leadership which offer practical solutions to spur industrialisation.” Said Hon. Prosper.

Mr. Mukwano requested the government to reduce on the administrative expenditures, ensure participatory planning, look for markets and ensure improved information access to ensure rural rapid industrialisation, “there is need to cut administrative expenditures especially in NAADS so that more resources can be allocated to set up agricultural related industries.” Said Mukwano.

Mukwano adds, “there is need for improved government planning involving more local citizens. There is also need for the government to put more emphasis of market access and improved policies to promote information access by the local citizens.”

Local citizens who participated on the discussions through call-ins, SMS and use of online platforms like facebook also appealed to the government to ensure good governance and invest more resources in promoting industrialisation to ensure sustainable development.

“Government should reduce on administrative expenditures and invest more money in setting up industries to reduce poverty. Government also needs to mobilise people for development using the media” Said Edward, a caller from kabarole district. Government needs to invest more in setting up small scale industries.” Said Tusiime James from Bunyangabu, Kabarole District.

“I think de role of de citizens is to demand for proper accountability frm their leaders and also do monitoring on certain devts, like construction of roads, hospitals etc.” Said Musana Wilson on Facebook