Hon Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs Hon Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja during the visit to UPDF Katta Farm

The Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja has started a four-day field tour of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) Food and Feeds Agricultural projects, starting with UPDF-Katta and Mt Elgon Mbale Veterans SACCOs Ltd farms in Bulambuli District.

The objective of the field visits is to assess and evaluate the progress of the food production projects being undertaken by the UPDF, military Veterans and National Enterprise Cooperation (NEC) in order to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the program.

Speaking in Bulambuli, Hon. Ssempijja observed that it was the decision of H.E & Commander in Chief of the UPDF; President Yoweri K Museveni together with cabinet that mooted the idea as a strategy to forestall any likely food insecurity in the country.

Hon Ssempijja speaking in Bulambuli District during the tour to the UPDF-CPW Katta and Mt Elgon Mbale veterans farms

The UPDF, Veterans, NEC and Prisons were brought on board to contribute to efforts aimed at ensuring stable food security in the country. “We should not let down the President, we should not let down the cabinet and we should not let down the country. If they have believed that we can do it, let us do it beyond their expectations.” Hon. Ssempijja emphasized.

The minister applauded the UPDF’s Chieftaincy of Production and Welfare (CPW) and Military Veterans at Katta farm and Mt. Elgon Mbale Veterans SACCOs in Bulambuli District respectively for their effort towards realizing the President’s wish. He called upon the soldiers and the veterans to ensure they live harmoniously with the local civilian communities.  Hon. Ssempijja added that the UPDF farms should aim at becoming modern projects if they are to interest the local population to join commercial agriculture for national development. “Our main principle as the Ministry and as UPDF is that we always want to be living in harmony with the population. In fact, we should be helping our people to have better lives”, he said. On the question of where the proceeds from the UPDF agricultural farms will go, the UPDF- Chief of Production and Welfare (CPW); Maj Gen Sam Kiwanuka pointed out that the harvest from UPDF-CPW farms will in principle be bought by the Uganda Grain Council, stored in the 36 national silos for the country as food reserves. Gen Kiwanuka however noted that there is need for mechanized farming to cope up with the effects of climate change like shortage of water that Katta farm Mt Elgon Mbale Veterans SACCOs Ltd farms in Bulambuli District are currently experiencing.

Hon. Sempijja during the field visit to the UPDF-CPW Katta farm in Bulambuli District

He called upon the government to further support the farms with modern farming tools including modern irrigation schemes.

Minister of State for Defence Hon Jacob Marksons Oboth speaking in Bulambuli District during the tour to the UPDF-CPW Katta farm

The District LC5 chairman in a speech read for him by the Female Councilor, representing Bumufuni, Bunambutye and Bwikhonge sub-counties; Ms. Mulokwa Everline thanked President Museveni for supporting the women inclusion agenda in the social -economic development of the country.

Minister of State in charge of Veteran Affairs Hon Huda OLeru speaking in Bulambuli District during the tour to the UPDF-CPW Katta farm

The District Chairman further said that with the establishment of Katta Barracks in Bulambuli District, security and sanity have been restored in the district that had suffered at the hands of the Karimojong raiders for many years. “Because of the Barracks in this area, we now have enough security”, he remarked. UPDF-CPW, Veterans and NEC agricultural farms are among the six projects under 6 agencies being supported with government funding through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF). Other agencies include National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), National Animal Genetic   Resources Center (NAGRC), and Prisons earmarked by the President to support national efforts towards eradicating food insecurity in the country including enhancing job creation for the local communities.

Ms Mulokwa Evelyne the District female councillor Bulamburi District making her remarks during the TMC visit to UPDF Katta farm

The field tour ending on 12^th November, 2022, will cover other UPDF and Veterans and NEC agricultural farms including Apac District Veterans SACCOS Ltd in Apac District, Kwania North Veteran SACCO Ltd in Kwania District, Kyangwali, Katonga and Kyankwanzi farms. The crop production in these farms includes maize, sorghum, soya beans among others. Hon. Ssempijja is accompanied by the State Minister for Defence; Hon. Jackson Oboth-Oboth, State Minister in-charge of veteran Affairs; Hon. Huda Abason Oleru, Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs’ Under-Secretary in-charge of logistics Mr. Francis Kahirita, Defence Spokesperson; Brig Gen Felix Kulaigye and the Director of Veteran Affairs; Brig Gen (Rtd) Emmanuel Musinguzi among others.