Kawumu in Luweero District was a special place in the protracted struggle against bad governance that brought the NRM to power. 

I am proud to be back in this place as we now focus on the struggle against poverty and ensure increased income for Ugandan households. 

In October 2016, I started a demonstration farm here in Kawumu to put in practice what I have been talking about as the four-acre model. 

At that time, we were experiencing an extended drought and I talked to people about adapting some rudimentary methods like drip irrigation using plastic water bottles to keep the crops alive. 

Some people heeded my advice, and I am sure they benefited, while others laughed at my efforts. 

Today, 16 months later and with consistent bottle irrigation, the farm is yielding results. We are now harvesting tomatoes, passion fruits, mushrooms, pineapples and matooke alongside fish, chicken and dairy products. 

The coffee too is flowering at 12 months instead of the usual 18 months because they survived the first stages on drip irrigation. 

So there is no question about our ability to improve our household income when we employ basic measures such as this. 

I am glad that the neighbouring homesteads I visited today organised under the Kawumu Village Sacco all seem to be catching up and this should be emulated countrywide. 

I am happy to meet people that have started to move from urban centres back to the villages to engage in gainful agriculture.

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