President Yoweri Museveni has revealed that the vulnerable portions of the economy have collapsed in light of COVID-19 pandemic, but the real economy is standing up and expanding, especially in agriculture and industry.
The President made the remarks today during the State of the Nation Address at State House, Entebbe.
Museveni said Uganda’s agriculture will likely not be affected by COVID-19.
He added that coffee earned Uganda $45.87m in March, $36m in April. Tea brought in $5m in March and $6m in April while fish brought in $15m in March and $7m in April while Maize brought in $10m in March, $6m in April.
“On account of our correct agricultural policy, we have a lot of agricultural products for food-security and for commerce in the form of: bananas, maize, beans, Irish, cassava, coffee, tea, cotton, cocoa, milk, beef, fish, poultry, etc,” Museveni said.
The President noted that Uganda earns US$2 billion (Shs7.5 trillion) from agriculture every year.
“My farm-based wealth is going nowhere. My cows were here yesterday, they are here today and they will be here tomorrow. They were also here in the time of Jesus,” Museveni said.
Museveni said Uganda now has surplus milk as Ugandans only consume 800 million litres pa of milk yet production is at 2.6 billion production pa.
“Ugandans are under consuming milk. Uganda can get a share of the global market by improving the quality and selling cheaper prices,” Museveni said, adding: “With 43 million Ugandans, the country needs 9billion litres of milk per annum”
