President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has framed peri-urban farming as a practical response to rising urban poverty and land scarcity in Wakiso District, urging residents of Nansana Municipality to turn small plots and backyards into income-generating assets.
Addressing a rally at the Kawanda Research Centre Grounds on Tuesday, Museveni told urban residents that even limited land in fast-growing municipalities can support profitable commercial agriculture if properly planned.
“In towns, you may not have large land, but you can still create wealth. What matters is choosing the right activity and managing it well,” Museveni said, pointing to intensive farming methods suitable for peri-urban settings.
The President identified poultry for egg production, backyard piggery, mushroom growing, and fish farming as viable ventures for densely populated areas such as Nansana, Matugga, and surrounding communities. He encouraged households to balance food production for domestic use with market-oriented farming aimed at steady cash income.
Museveni cautioned that urbanisation without household income strategies risks trapping families in poverty, even when infrastructure improves.
“You can have tarmac roads, electricity and buildings, but if homes are not creating wealth, people remain poor. Development must reach the household level,” he said.
Using Wakiso as an example, Museveni highlighted the district’s proximity to Kampala markets and access to wetlands and water sources as advantages for peri-urban fish farming. He cited figures from presidential demonstration farms showing that a half-acre fish pond can generate up to Shs100 million annually, with about Shs70 million remaining after costs.
He added that areas with flat land near rivers, including Kirolo and Masuulita, would be supported to establish fish ponds, arguing that fish farming offers one of the fastest routes to sustainable income for urban and semi-urban residents.
The President also linked peri-urban agriculture to national employment priorities, saying it complements opportunities in ICT, manufacturing and services by absorbing youth and reducing pressure on the formal job market.
Museveni concluded by urging Wakiso residents to view farming not as a rural activity, but as a modern urban business that can secure livelihoods in a rapidly urbanising Ugand
