By Patience Ampaire
Residents in the Lyantonde district have been advised to use Parish Development Model (PDM) funds to improve their standards of living while at the department meeting for Production and Agriculture that was held at Lyantonde district headquarters.
In the meeting, Mbetegyerize Godfrey the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Lyantonde district said that the major cause of the meeting was to look for better ways of serving people through production services noting that most countries have developed through industrialization and agriculture.
He called upon agriculturalists to focus on value addition in whatever they produce such that they can catch up and compete with industrialized countries.
Mr Twesigyeomwe Kenneth the Production Officer Lyantonde district, the initiator of the meeting said that the government is targeting 39% of those who are in subsistence farming to switch to commercial farming, urging the leaders to implement this transition.
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”As the office of production, we are going to start monitoring the implementation of PDM throughout the whole sub-counties of Lyantonde starting with Mpumudde,” said Kenneth before he appreciated the Program Officials for not extorting money from the farmers warning that whoever has the vice should curb it and leave people to benefit from PDM money.
”To make a move, Kenneth said that he allocated Ugx9120000 for paying farmers in their enterprise groups, training farmers, marketing, and keeping records etc, Ugx7296000 for data collection, Ugx1276800 for improving technology, educating guiding farmers on how to dry and harvest, Ugx14million for model farmers and Ugx16.95m for agricultural value change, so I expect good results because you are also catered for,” said Kenneth.
On the issue of PDM funds, the RDC Mbetegyerize urged leaders to keep engaging the beneficiaries so that they can be transformed.
Other Matters Raised
Kambamu Rapheal the District Fisheries Officer expressed his concern about the increased numbers of street kids in Lyantonde district.
Some time back, street kids were transferred to different places by the government, but according to Rapheal some have resorted to staying in small towns. On this matter, the RDC said that they are going to look for better ways of minimizing them with the best attempts.
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Ssekandi Paul the Probation Officer Lyantonde district said that three of some of the street kids were practising prostitution in the town and with the help of Councillor Zalwango Hasifah, they were able to take them back to Rukungiri where they initially came from.
”I want to caution parents to be vigilant because we shall start arresting those who use their children for trade after school hours because some have been defiled in the wee hours,” noted Ssekandi.
In the same meeting, Lyantonde District Veterinary Officer, Mr Bameka Ronald asked those who slaughter animals to make sure that all the animals to be slaughtered are inspected and stamped by a vet official so that they can be consumed without doubts.
”Let people know that for the meat to be consumed in the community, the vet officer must inspect and approve that animal to be slaughtered. The stamp on that meat is key,” said Bameka.
It is worth noting that few days back, RDC and the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) handed over meat inspection tools including stamps, aprons, ink, knives, hooks, belts, among other tools to veterinary officers of all sub-counties in Lyantonde district, aiming at ensuring quality meat consumed by residents.
Meanwhile, at the same meeting, Lyantonde District LCV Chairman Fred Muhangi fumed at his critics accusing him of exposing his government when he reported to the Leader of Opposition that the district is facing a couple of challenges, among them including poor health care and inadequate infrastructure in the schools.
Muhangi said those accusing him are just playing cheap politics because he was elected to deal with challenges affecting his people and so reporting them to the Leader of the Opposition believes will get solved as this is the advisory wing of the government.
