BUHWEJU DISTRICT,UGANDA — Buhweju District is stepping up its demand for greater inclusion in Government development programmes, with Woman MP Hon. Annet Nnamara Oyes Byamukama calling for equitable access to agricultural inputs, financial literacy programmes, rural infrastructure support and better facilitation of frontline government workers.
The call was made during the Minister of Local Government Hon. Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi’s engagement with leaders and residents in Buhweju at Nsiika on 7 August 2026, where Oyes presented a number of concerns affecting service delivery and household economic empowerment.
At the centre of the discussion was the distribution of hand hoes, a Government agricultural-support initiative that has benefited selected regions of the country.
According to official MAAIF records, Government had procured and distributed 420,000 hand hoes to farming households in eight districts by 2019. The programme was later expanded, with Government reporting that a total of 2.5 million hoes had been distributed to beneficiaries in Karamoja, West Nile and Teso.
The issue has now become a major talking point in Buhweju, with residents questioning why the hilly and predominantly agricultural district has not benefited from similar interventions.
Supporters of Oyes argue that her demand for hoes should not be interpreted as a request for special treatment, but as a call for Buhweju to receive its fair share of Government programmes.
“If you have failed on the small things, how will you get the big ones?”
*BEYOND THE HOES: OYES PUSHES FINANCIAL LITERACY AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT*
Oyes’ message at Nsiika went beyond hand hoes. She highlighted three major areas: training people to manage resources, supporting households with little or no capital, and facilitating government workers who deliver and monitor programmes.
On financial literacy, she argued that some households receive money but lack knowledge in budgeting, saving, investment and business management. She said this makes training essential for programmes such as PDM, UWEP, YLP and Emyooga.
The principle, she noted, is that money without knowledge can be wasted, while knowledge combined with resources creates sustainable livelihoods.
*‘THOSE SERVING THE PEOPLE ALSO NEED FACILITATION’*
The second concern was limited facilitation of frontline personnel including Community Development Officers, Parish Chiefs and PDM focal persons. Reports from the meeting indicated challenges with transport, fuel and communication, which affect implementation and monitoring.
Oyes’ position is that strengthening these workers will ultimately benefit citizens. Without facilitation, programmes risk delays and weak follow-up.
*A CALL FOR BETTER RURAL ROADS*
Oyes also reportedly handed Minister Balaam a proposal for more efficient maintenance of rural roads, with Buhweju suggested as a pilot area. For a hilly agricultural district, better roads are critical for farmers to access markets, schools and health facilities.
*BUHWEJU SAYS IT SHOULD NOT BE LEFT BEHIND*
Residents and supporters of Oyes argue that Buhweju’s terrain should make targeted Government support more important. They are calling for the district to be considered whenever national agricultural-input programmes are rolled out, and for stronger implementation of economic empowerment initiatives.
At the same time, community members are being encouraged to use existing programmes, seek financial-literacy training and organize in groups to benefit.
The debate now shifts to whether the concerns raised will translate into concrete interventions for Buhweju.
As one supporter put it, “Let her plant and we wait for the time of harvesting.”
