- Akena wants govt to rehabilitate some regions
- He wants Uganda's former glory in agriculture restored
- Asks government to make interests of common man a priority.
Opposition party Uganda Peoples Congress -UPC has implored the Government to fulfill the pledges to rehabilitate and reconstruct Luwero triangle, Teso sub-region, Acholi sub-region, Lango sub-region and West Nile as Uganda celebrates the 59th independence anniversary.
Speaking to the media Jimmy Akena the UPC President said the economies of our people revolved around Cattle culture which secured their past, present and future. Cattle defined their day-to-day life, it was the cornerstone of wealth, an engine of Agricultural revolution through ox-plough, and usage of cow-dung as organic fertilizer.
According to Akena, the country was modeled on 3 Cs; coffee, Cotton, and copper that laid a foundation for modernized Uganda especially with the boom periods of the 1960s, But still, it was felt that our "future" needs to be more secured with consolidation of the 3 Cs and well as conscious diversification to 3 Ts; Tourism, Tobacco and Tea.
These had backward and forward linkages. For instance, the rural economies especially of our growers prospered very well as there was an easy process of production and marketing of any agricultural produce.
The services of extension workers were readily available. The specialized marketing boards like; Coffee Marketing Board (CMB), Lint Marketing Board (LMB), Produce Marketing Board (PMB), and Uganda Tea Authority (UTA) were on move and ensuring the economy thrives.
The specialized banks for farmers like Uganda Cooperative Bank and Uganda Commercial Bank were available to fund the farmers at all farming seasons and marketing at enabling conditions as their loans were more friendly and affordable.
Akena notes Uganda at 59 years of uhuru has to rediscover that past glory; adding that "what we are seeing at the border with Kenya rejecting our agricultural exports on grounds of substandard means that we need to work extra hard on our quality controls".
Similarly, Sugar cane growers especially in Busoga and other parts of the country are caught up with their produce as there is no market. The Government has to intervene and stabilize sugar cane growing and processing for economic growth and development.
Akena insists that the interests of the common man and that of the country should be the priority.
"It is to-day that we make clear to all that we shall not allow the interests of any Owekitibwa or any Bwana to outweigh those of the common man or Muwejjereâ he said.