An Open Letter to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
Your Excellency,
I hope this message finds you well. I write to remind you of the memorable visit you made to Nyakijumba Village Katokye Parish , Kyanamira Sub county in Kabale district on your way to officiate at the National Tarehe Sita celebrations at National Teachers College -NTC Kabale
It was a joyful Friday morning when your convoy stopped in our village. The community rushed to welcome you with songs, dances and ululations. Many residents whispered with excitement, saying it was a rare golden opportunity to see and interact with you for the first time. Your presence brought hope and inspiration to many people in our community.
During your interaction with us, you asked about agriculture in our village. I explained that most residents practise farming on a small scale mainly due to limited land and resources. You encouraged us and promised to support able farmers by sponsoring them to visit demonstration farms so they can acquire modern agricultural skills and improve productivity. You also emphasised the importance of using fertilisers to improve soil fertility and increase production.
Your Excellency, agriculture remains the backbone of our livelihood. However, many youths in our sub-county, despite holding academic degrees, remain unemployed. Some have turned to agriculture while others operate boda bodas to support themselves and their families. With proper support, skills training and exposure, agriculture can become a reliable source of income for many young people.
In September 2024, I had the opportunity to attend the Western Region Farm Camp hosted by St. Agatha Girls Kakore in Rubanda District. The camp attracted schools from across western Uganda and provided us with exposure visits to demonstration farms in Rwanda. During the visit, I gained practical knowledge in piggery, juice production and value addition. Although I lacked sufficient capital, I managed to start a small piggery project using the skills I acquired. This experience strengthened my belief that training and exposure can transform farming in our communities.
Our sub-county is also home to leaders who have benefited from agricultural exposure programmes. Mr Keith Rwamahe, the Kyanamira Sub-county NRM Chairperson, was sponsored by the Ministry of Finance in October 2018 to visit Israel where he studied irrigation and horticulture. Additionally, the District NRM Chairperson, Mrs Bridget Asinga, also hails from this area. These examples show that when leaders and farmers are exposed to modern farming techniques, they can contribute greatly to agricultural development.
Your Excellency, on November 26, 2025, you hosted journalists from the Kigezi Sub-region at your Irenga Country Home in Ntungamo District. Unfortunately, I did not get the opportunity to discuss agriculture in detail. Many farmers and residents who listened to your message remain hopeful and optimistic that you will fulfill your earlier promise to support agricultural development in our area.
Therefore, we humbly request you to grant us time for a meeting or discussion where farmers, youth and stakeholders can share ideas and explore ways of improving agriculture in our community.
We remain grateful for your continued commitment to community development and look forward to your positive response.
The writer is a Journalist and Farmer
