PRESIDENTIAL ASSISTANT KISSAKYAMUKAMA TURNS PRESIDENT MUSEVENI’S WEALTH CREATION MESSAGE INTO A THRIVING COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE ENTERPRISE

PRESIDENTIAL ASSISTANT KISSAKYAMUKAMA TURNS PRESIDENT MUSEVENI’S WEALTH CREATION MESSAGE INTO A THRIVING COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE ENTERPRISE President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has consistently challenged leaders to lead by example in the fight against poverty by actively engaging in wealth creation before encouraging the people they lead to do the same. One of the leaders who has embraced that call is Mr. Yiga Kissakyamukama, the Special Presidential Assistant on Service Delivery and Monitoring, who has transformed his personal journey from poverty into a thriving business empire built on commercial agriculture and entrepreneurship. Beyond building his own enterprises, Mr. Kissakyamukama has also inspired young people in Gomba District to embrace commercial agriculture as a pathway to improving their livelihoods. During a field visit to his farms in Gomba on Saturday, 25 July 2026, Mr. Kissakyamukama showcased several successful enterprises under his company, NRM7, describing them as practical examples of President Museveni's wealth creation message in action. One of his enterprises, located in Kigumba Village, Kigezi Parish, Maddu Sub-county, sits on 125 acres of government land leased for 49 years. The farm comprises 150 goats, 70 head of cattle, a 25-acre eucalyptus plantation, 10 acres of bananas and two acres of plantain. The project employs nine permanent workers alongside several casual labourers, creating jobs and improving household incomes in the area. Mr. Kissakyamukama said his goat farming venture was inspired by President Museveni's Parish Development Model (PDM) tours, particularly one in Amuru District. "I started with just 30 goats, and today I have 150. If I sold them today, each goat would fetch between Shs700,000 and Shs2.5 million. My target is to have 600 goats by the end of this presidential term," he said. He described goat farming as one of the most profitable and manageable enterprises because it requires relatively low maintenance while offering high returns. Beyond livestock, Mr. Kissakyamukama is optimistic about the returns from his forestry investment. His eucalyptus trees, now two and a half years old, are expected to generate approximately Shs400 million within the next two to three years when harvested for electricity poles. His annual income targets include Shs200 million from goat farming, while another 12-acre coffee and banana plantation in Kyamabaale Village is projected to generate around Shs240 million annually. He also owns another farm in Kisozi with 80 dairy cows producing about 200 litres of milk daily, which is sold at Shs1,200 per litre, providing another reliable source of income. From Street Boy to Successful Entrepreneur: Mr. Kissakyamukama recounted his difficult childhood, saying he arrived in Maddu in 2000 as a street child with nowhere to sleep and survived by doing manual labour, including carrying sacks of maize flour for a living. "When I met President Museveni in 2007, my mother was critically ill and my father had died a few years ago. He supported me to return to school until I completed Senior Four, after which I ventured into business. His support inspired me to become a different person by improving my own life and helping others," he said. He explained that under a Presidential education support programme for vulnerable children in Gomba, beneficiaries received Shs600,000 for upkeep every term. "I would spend only Shs200,000 and save the balance. That became my starting capital, which I invested in buying and selling agricultural produce such as maize flour." He added that he also benefited from cadreship training under President Museveni, which further shaped his outlook on wealth creation, discipline and self-reliance. "I didn't study that much, but today I'm financially stable. I thank President Museveni for transforming my life. He never handed me billions of shillings. He gave me knowledge, and I used that knowledge to invest wisely." Haji Hakim Buyondo, a wholesale trader and former employer of Mr. Kissakyamukama, recalled that he first worked in his shop as a casual labourer in the early 2000s. "He is a transparent man. He used to deliver sacks of maize flour to our clients and always returned with every shilling. That is why I trusted him," Haji Buyondo said. He praised Mr. Kissakyamukama for remaining humble despite holding a senior government position. "I thank him for being hardworking. Despite being a government official, he still respects me. He has remained humble and respectful." Expanding Beyond Agriculture: In addition to farming, Mr. Kissakyamukama has diversified into sand block and concrete paver production in Maddu, a business he says has significantly boosted his investments. For the past three years, he has manually produced thousands of concrete blocks and pavers, using the profits to purchase more land and construct a commercial storeyed building in Maddu Town. “I make millions of shillings as profits from this business,” he disclosed. He is also developing the Esteri Kokundeka Seven Hotel in Gomba, still using the proceeds from the brick-making venture. To improve productivity, he plans to acquire a brick-making machine worth USD160,000 (approximately Shs600 million). "For young people who may not wish to invest in agriculture, there are many other productive ventures such as concrete block making. The important thing is to invest rather than consume." Inspiring Others Through Action: Mr. Kissakyamukama said he deliberately established most of his investments in Gomba so that local young people could see that success is possible regardless of one's background. "I want to serve as a good example to the youth. No matter where you come from, you can succeed if you remain focused, transparent and humble." He cautioned young people against selling family land to finance urban lifestyles, urging them instead to invest in productive enterprises. "Wealth is not in the city; wealth is here. Young people should be patient, work hard and seek guidance from those who have succeeded. I was once a casual labourer and people laughed at me, but I never gave up." He added that being close to President Museveni or serving in government should never be viewed as a shortcut to wealth. "Being a friend of the President does not mean acquiring property through dubious means. Work for your success. It is dangerous to be a government official or close to the President and still remain poor. Everything I own has been acquired through honest work." Supporting Youth Wealth Creation: Beyond his personal investments, Mr. Kissakyamukama has committed himself to empowering young people through mentorship and direct support. Through his agricultural projects, he trains young people in modern farming techniques, including irrigation, and hopes to create employment opportunities for hundreds of youths in Gomba. During the same field visit, he met a group of young people in Kyamabaale Village and urged them to remain organised, disciplined and prepared to benefit from the various government programmes aimed at transforming livelihoods. "Because people lifted me, I have made it my responsibility to lift others. Today, I support many children and young people because I believe everyone deserves an opportunity. As you grow and succeed, do not forget your community. Become a source of hope to others," he told the gathering. Mr. Kissakyamukama also unveiled plans under the NRM Museveni Project to organise youth groups across Gomba's nine sub-counties, encouraging each participant to establish at least two acres of coffee and bananas. "If every youth in our group has two acres, we shall transform livelihoods. I will request the President to support us with quality seedlings. We need model farms before receiving the tractors that the President recently pledged." He further noted that, with proper management, one acre of coffee can generate about Shs20 million annually, encouraging young people to embrace commercial agriculture as a sustainable route out of poverty. He also revealed that more than 650 goats have already been distributed to young people in five sub-counties of Gomba as Presidential support, with plans to extend the programme to the remaining sub-counties. Beneficiaries Speak: Several beneficiaries credited Mr. Kissakyamukama's mentorship and support for changing their lives. Jemba Nabil from Mpenja, who described himself as a former opposition supporter, said he now owns four acres of coffee after receiving assistance from Mr. Kissakyamukama. "I'm now committed to working even harder so that I can maximise the benefits from the projects supported by Mr. Kissakyamukama." Another beneficiary, Bamutontala Kizito Frank from Makukulu Village, thanked President Museveni for using Mr. Kissakyamukama to uplift young people in Gomba. "I have one acre of coffee, and he also gave us goats. My goats have already produced offspring, and my family is doing well. We thank President Museveni for supporting us through his humble servant, Mr. Kissakyamukama." Call for Accountability: Mr. Kissakyamukama also appealed to President Museveni to convene all the vulnerable children who benefited from the Presidential education support programme in Gomba so they could account for how they utilised the opportunity. According to him, more than 1,000 young people, including himself, benefited from the programme, although some may not have made productive use of the support they received. "I didn't study that much, but I'm successful. It doesn't make sense for the President to support your education, you earn a degree, yet you have nothing to show because you ignored his wealth creation message," he said. For Mr. Kissakyamukama, his own journey demonstrates that determination, discipline, wise investment and practical application of President Museveni's wealth creation message can transform lives. "Those of us who listened to the President's message have succeeded. I encourage every young person to invest wisely, remain disciplined and use the opportunities available to fight poverty through commercial agriculture."