President Museveni has donated 10,000 units of maize seed to residents of Bukomansimbi District through Bukomansimbi South MP Hassan Mukiibi Sserunjogi, in an initiative aimed at improving household food security, boosting agricultural production and fighting poverty.
The distribution exercise was launched at Buyoga Playground, where Mukiibi met residents and local leaders from Maleku Parish and urged beneficiaries to plant the seeds rather than use them for food.
Mukiibi cautioned residents against consuming the seeds, explaining that they had been treated for planting and could be harmful if eaten.
“The seeds are intended for planting, not for cooking or eating. Beneficiaries should use them for the purpose for which they have been provided so that they can harvest and improve their livelihoods,” Mukiibi said.
He encouraged residents to plant the seeds in their gardens to increase food production and generate income from the sale of surplus harvests.
The MP also urged local leaders overseeing the distribution to ensure the seeds reach the intended beneficiaries, warning against diversion, favouritism and political discrimination.
He said the programme should benefit residents according to their needs rather than political affiliations, adding that village leaders had a responsibility to ensure transparency and fairness throughout the exercise.
Mukiibi also indicated that additional agricultural support would be provided through President Museveni’s initiatives, including coffee seedlings, fertilisers, spraying pumps, herbicides and irrigation equipment.
He said the planned interventions were intended to help farmers diversify their agricultural activities, improve productivity and increase household incomes.
The legislator further urged residents to take advantage of the government’s Parish Development Model (PDM), which seeks to help households transition into the money economy through participation in productive enterprises.
He encouraged residents to use the programme’s opportunities to establish and expand income-generating activities.
However, Mukiibi warned officials implementing the PDM against favouring wealthy individuals at the expense of vulnerable households.
He said the programme should reach its intended beneficiaries and cautioned that officials who manipulate the selection process or discriminate against eligible residents would face disciplinary action.
His remarks come amid continuing concerns in some communities about beneficiary selection and the management of government-supported programmes at the local level.
Religious leaders who attended the event also urged village chairpersons to stay out of land disputes, particularly where official stamps are allegedly misused in ways that could disadvantage residents.
They called on local leaders to exercise their responsibilities with integrity and avoid actions that could fuel conflicts within communities.
Some residents raised concerns about increasing cases of theft, calling for greater vigilance and cooperation between communities and security authorities to improve safety.
Local leaders also highlighted challenges affecting their communities, including inadequate access to clean water, poor road infrastructure and other gaps in service delivery.
They called for government intervention, arguing that improved infrastructure and access to essential services would support agricultural production and improve residents’ welfare.
Kibinge Sub-county Chairperson Sowed Sserwadda praised Mukiibi for what he described as his contributions to the area during his relatively short time in Parliament, particularly in the health sector.
Sserwadda said the legislator’s healthcare interventions had attracted attention from local leaders, although residents continued to face challenges requiring further government support.
The leaders called for continued engagement between elected representatives, government officials and communities to address the outstanding concerns.
The maize seed distribution is expected to provide participating households with planting materials, although its impact on food security and household incomes will depend on whether the seeds reach the intended beneficiaries and are successfully planted and managed.
Residents will also be looking to the promised agricultural inputs and improvements in essential services to complement the initiative and address the wider challenges affecting livelihoods in Bukomansimbi.