Bull roasting in Kyankwanzi.

Fellow Countrymen, Countrywomen; and especially, the Bazzukulu. The International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the significant role played by women and girls, in our families, local communities; and Country at large. I, therefore, wish them all a happy Women's Day and to thank you all for using this occasion, to highlight the contribution of women and girls, in all the spheres of life.

Today in Kazo, I thanked our people for putting into practice the NRM message of wealth creation. On top of the seven matafari we have laid for Uganda over the last 40 years, I reminded them that to maximise profit from land, they must embrace zero grazing. Free range grazing wastes land. One square mile carries only 200 cows, yet with planted pasture, the same land can support over 500 cows. I cautioned the people of Kazo against underutilising their large acreages and against dividing land after the death of parents because it destroys value. Look at Nyakaana of Fort Portal and Joseph Ijala of Serere: less than 10 acres but earning well. Our milk and coffee production has risen because many Ugandans woke up, embraced dairy and planted coffee through Operation Wealth Creation. Let us continue on this path.

I congratulate Matongo Wood Works Company Limited for reviving our African heritage through the production of high-quality traditional household items like orutatika (wooden bowls) and entatika (unbreakable utensils). Together with my daughter Natasha Karugire, I met Ms. Stella Teromu and Ms. Elizabeth Karunga at Mbale State Lodge and saw their fine work. They are restoring cultural pride that had been eroded by imported products. Their creativity is bringing back authentic utensils that once defined our homes, esiwani, ebakuri, entsimbo, strong, durable and part of our identity. The imported items are weak and short-lived. What Matongo is doing is not just art; it is quality, identity and pride. We shall continue supporting local producers who reduce dependence on foreign plastics and silicone products.

Before finalizing the day, I visited David Irumba, an established farmer in Hoima whose main source of income is his poultry business. I am happy that this civil servant listened to our appeal to go from working only for the stomach to working for money. He started in 2018 and is now making approximately 900 million shillings from his enterprise. His testimony, like many others is that it is easy to get rid of poverty in Uganda.

Fellow Ugandans, especially the Bazzukulu, I congratulate the Ugandans on this day, the 39th Anniversary of the victory of the NRM in 1986. I salute all those who contributed to that victory and all those that have contributed to the social-economic development and peace-building in Uganda, eversince. Uganda is now stable, peaceful and developing at a good rate that is going to accelerate, given the policies we are putting in place. Happy Liberation Day.