Iganga, (UG):- The Prime Minister of Uganda Rt. Hon Robbina Nabanjja has urged the people in the Busoga sub-region to embrace government programmes stressing their commitment to increase production and productivity as well as household income for sustainable development.
Hon Nabbanja was Thursday, June 27, launching the distribution of 500 Dairy Heifers in Busoga sub-region during the function that took place at Iganga district headquarters.
Presiding over the function as the chief guest, Nabbanja said this is a step towards empowering the people in Busoga to create sustainable wealth and to improve the standard of living.
The animals which were lobbied by members of parliament to support the people in their respective constituencies were supplied by the National Agriculture Advisory Services (NAADS) through the Ministry of Agriculture. Nabanjja said Busoga being an area with wetlands, they have started with alternative means of income generation before vacating them.
“We have started from here because our president said that we support our people with alternatives before sending them out of the wetlands and we have started. The intervention by the government in the area of livestock is aimed at improved household food, nutrition, income and milk,” Rt. Hon Nabbanja said.
She says the Heifer intervention in Busoga is in line with the government programme for wealth creation through creating small and medium enterprises around the region, adding that it complements the government efforts of PDM and other programmes.
“The Heifer intervention in Busoga Sub-region is in line with the government programme for wealth creation by creating small and medium enterprises around this region. This compliments our efforts of the Parish Development Model (PDM), and it promotes an alternative source of livelihood through increased milk production and household incomes,” she added.
The State Minister for Agriculture Hon. Bwino Fred Kyakulaga said this was a request made by the NRM MPs to the president during the NRM caucus and the president ordered his ministry to set aside some money for the initiative. Every MP was given 10 heifers to deliver to people in their respective constituencies.
“During the caucus of NRM MPs at Kyankwanzi, President Museveni ordered me to get funds for this initiative after a request by MPs to get some cows for their people. A total of Shs1.5b was used to purchase these animals,” Minister Bwino said, adding that the government is committed to fight poverty amongst the people.
The Assistant Livestock Development Officer at NAADS Dr. Kiyini Robert Lule told Daily Express that the total number to be distributed is 500 heifers which will be given out per constituency in Busoga. He says 250 heifers were delivered today and the remaining ones will be delivered as this week closes.
“The total number of heifers that we shall be distributing is 500 and today we distributed 250 and starting tomorrow, more will be distributed to the different districts as the allocations are. The number per district varies based on the number of constituencies and all the 12 districts will be covered,” Dr. Kiyini said.
The Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Iganga district Mr. Mwanje Eddy urged people who have received the animals to avoid selling or exchanging them, tasking them to keep them well and maintain them plus looking for knowledge and skills to maintain them. Said the government will arrest whoever attempts to sell the heifers.
The launch was attended by Hon Members of Parliament in Busoga, RDC/ RCCs in Busoga including deputies and assistants, district chairpersons and other district leaders, NRM chairpersons, and cultural and religious leaders, among others.
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