Under the State House program dubbed: “Strategic campaign on alternative sources of income generating activities to the fishing communities in Uganda”, the high-quality heifers were delivered on Friday by officials from state House led by the President’s Assistant Private Secretary on Value addition, Ms. Sylvia Nakiwolo.
During the meeting held at Ssi-Bukunja sub-county council offices in Buikwe district, Ms. Nakiwolo who is also the program coordinator informed beneficiaries that through the initiative, President Museveni is seeking to help people in the fishing communities fight poverty by creating wealth through other sources of income.
“We have started this project with Buikwe as a pilot district from where it will be enrolled to other fishing communities around the country. They will be coming to benchmark from you so ensure it succeeds,” Ms. Nakiwolo said, adding that in other areas, they have trained and supported beneficiaries in the district with knowledge on poultry, piggery, commercial crop growing, and apiculture (bee-keeping), among others as alternative sources of income-generating activities.
Under the dairy farming project, each group of 30 people is given one pregnant female heifer for which a calf will be passed on to another person until all the members have received the same.
Some of the beneficiary groups all in Ssi-Bukunja sub county include among others; Agali Awamu development group, Ssi Trading Center Coffee group, Bavubuka Tukole group, Busalwa Farmers group, Lugala Disability Farmers group, Koba Lubumba Piggery group and Lwala Tomato Farmers group.
“President Museveni wants to see all Ugandans join the money economy irrespective of their political parties because he is a President of all Ugandans. So, this project should not be politicised,” Ms. Nakiwolo emphasised.
The LC.5 Chairman for Buikwe District, Jimmy Kanaabi who subscribes to the opposition Forum for Democratic change (FDC) party expressed gratitude about the work of State House in his district and urged beneficiaries to ensure the dairy project multiplies so as to benefit more people.
“I’m confident that the program will move on well in Buikwe just like the rest of other State House programs in the district that have progressed. We should love this project because it is aimed at uplifting us into the money economy, not looking at only fishing from the lake,” Chairman Kanaabi said, further emphasising that supervision remains key to ensure the success of the project.
“We also asked the State House to help us with quality boats, engines and fishing gears in order to fish within the law,” he added.
Mr. Kanaabi also revealed that the district has received drugs from the government to immunise and spray all animals like goats & cows for free and warned residents to avoid fake veterinary officers and acaricides.
The LC.3 Chairman, Ssi-Bukunja sub county, Mr. Kibuuka Godfrey described the program as a unique one that emphasises unity and togetherness among the people.
“Our country was built through working together but we have failed to work in groups. You find in a group of 30, only three people are responsible and seriously following up on what’s going on, others are not bothered. After registration, everything remains on paper,” Chairman Kibuuka noted, further urging the dairy project beneficiaries to look after their heifers because it is the beginning of their prosperity in future.
Mr. Kibuuka also called upon the people of Ssi-Bukunja sub-county especially those in groups to apply for Parish Development Model Funds and boost their incomes.
“Everybody should at least have an acre of coffee or cocoa,” he said.
According to Mr. Dan Kiyaga, the Chairperson of Bukunja Foundation (BUFO), most of the fishermen who have faced the repercussions of illegal fishing have moved out of the lake and haven’t settled financially. He said the dairy projects in addition to other State House projects in Buikwe district are providing alternative sources of income.
One of the beneficiaries Ms. Rehema Nalweyiso of Agali Awamu Development Group from Namukuma Village thanked President Museveni for the heifers to improve their livelihoods.
Earlier, Mr Moses Migadde, a Veterinary Officer of Ngogwe sub-county, taught the beneficiaries about the best practices of dairy farming that include feeding and treatment. Mr. Migadde further asked residents to gazette an area for communal spraying of their animals known as a crush pen.
The meeting was also attended by Dr. Mwanje Gerald who is the Buikwe District Veterinary Officer.
The program seen as a holistic approach to a better life of the people especially in the fishing communities is implemented by State House in partnership with Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, The National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS), Microfinance Support Centre, Private Sector Foundation Uganda, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Bukunja Foundation.
