Kiryandongo district hands over shs55m machines to DRPIP groups

Kiryandongo, (UG): Authorities in Kiryandongo District, Western Uganda have handed over four tricycles and three maize shellers to four strategic investment groups under the Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (DRDIP).

The tricycles were handed over to the leaders of Kakwokwo, Mboira, Kikuube and Southern Ward parishes’ strategic investment groups which had earlier on received maize milling machines worth 740 million shillings.

Each tricycle cost 8.8 million shillings while the Sheller at 6.75 million.

The maize shellers have been procured to address post-harvest handling issues among the farmers and also generate revenue for the beneficiary groups.

During the handover ceremony at the District headquarters, Martin Jacan Gwokto, the Chief Administrative Officer for Kiryandongo District commended the government of Uganda for empowering the communities to eradicate poverty through various livelihood projects.

Mr Gwokto also called upon the beneficiaries to effectively use the machines provided and maintain them through timely servicing.

The Kiryandongo District Chairperson, Ms Edith Aliguma congratulated the beneficiaries upon receiving support from the government and urged their leaders to ensure transparency and accountability to avoid disintegrating the groups.

Ms Aliguma further urged the beneficiaries to use the investments put in place by the government to diversify their economic activities and create wealth at the household level.

Dan Muganga, the RDC Kiryandongo emphasized that the investments put in place by the government should help in transforming the lives of the beneficiaries by improving their standards of living and incomes at the household level.

Mr Muganga also cautioned the beneficiaries against misuse of the equipment provided to avoid conflicts among the group members.

“Equipment should not be personalized but rather shared among the group members and the community,” he said.

The strategic investments installed under the Development Response to Displacement Impact Project will help in improving post-harvest handling and value addition to maize which is a District flagship agricultural enterprise.