The Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation, Gen. (Rtd) Caleb Akandwanaho, aka Salim Saleh, has urged leaders to prioritise promotion of mechanised agriculture in a bid to spur massive production.
Gen. Sale made the appeal while presiding over the pass out of 419 cadres who successfully completed a civic education training programme organised by the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology, and National Guidance.
During the ceremony held on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at Lokole-Agago district, Gen. Saleh emphasised the importance of mechanising agriculture.
The training was aimed at empowering participants with knowledge and skills to effectively engage in national development initiatives.
He told leaders to leverage available technology and land to enhance agricultural productivity.
“My focus is on transformation, not politics; I encourage leaders to visit mechanised and large-scale enterprises in the region to inspire positive change,” Salem Salah said.
Beatrice Akelo Akoli, the State Minister for Economic Monitoring in the office of the President and also the woman Member of Parliament for Agago district, expressed her gratitude to Gen. Saleh for facilitating a tour of Terra Agri Farm and Atiak Sugar Factory for the graduates.
“I commend the state minister for ICT and national guidance for initiating the transformative training programme, which serves to dispel misinformation about government initiatives,” Akoli said.
Brig Gen. Felix Busizoori, the 4th Division Commander, also praised Gen. Saleh for this initiative, encouraging participants to share their newfound knowledge with local communities to promote patriotism and national values.
He highlighted the need to combat corruption and urged leaders to reject divisive politics in favour of productivity and innovation.
Brig Gen Keith Katungi, the 5th Division Commander, urged the cadres to adopt a strong work ethic following their week-long training.
“The correlation between high illiteracy, poverty levels, and conflict is a necessity for communities to engage with government programmes aimed at improving livelihoods,” Brig Gen Katungi said.
Brig Gen Katungi encouraged the cadres to implement the 4-acre model system on their smaller landholdings, asserting that success requires streamlined land ownership in the Acholi Sub-region.
“What belongs to all belongs to none; we need collective responsibility in land management,” Brig Gen Katungi added.
The training that started from July 19th–25th helped participants to understand the right ideologies, political economy, and national guidance, all aimed at empowering communities for effective participation in national programmes.
