Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has commended the progress being made by the Busoga Consortium in lobbying for the growth of the region and tasked the group to do more in promoting mineral development in the area.
Kadaga said that the region has many untapped mineral deposits that can be used, when well exploited, to improve the welfare of Ugandans living in Busoga.
“We are endowed with a lot of minerals; I asked the district leaders in Busoga to give use data since we gave them maps to establish where these mineral resources are located,” said Kadaga.
The Speaker also told the meeting that progress had been made in improving marine transport to Busoga region, which would ease transport for people and goods from the region to markets.
“I am glad to announce that there is going to be a water transport service from Entebbe to Jinja. The boat is expected to take two and a half hours in transit, and I will launch it soon,” she said.
Kadaga also called on the Consortium to continuously lobby for government’s input in the preservation of heritage sites located in the region, including the Source of the Nile and the newly established Ghandi Memorial.
She also tasked the leaders of the Consortium to demand for loyalties which Busoga is privy to, as well as continue to lobby for improved education in the region.
The Minister for the Presidency, Hon. Esther Mbayo, commended the Speaker for her support to the Consortium’s activates as their Patron.
“We have had several rallies where we are teaching the public about the development agenda of the Consortium. We have also received positive response from stakeholders,” Mbayo said.
During the meeting the highlights of the Busoga Development Agenda were presented to the Speaker, with seven pillars that include education and skills development; commercializing agriculture; tourism – culture and heritage; road and water infrastructure development; industrialization; urban and human settlement and environmental sustainability.
