Pader, Uganda: Once abandoned and left in ruins by years of war, Aswa Ranch in Pader District is now bringing renewed hope and opportunity to the people of northern Uganda.
The ranch, once one of East Africa’s premier livestock breeding centers, was gutted during the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency. Buildings were razed, herds stolen, and the land left idle. But in 2014, following persistent lobbying by local leaders, the Government of Uganda revived the facility through the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC/DB).
Since then, the ranch has steadily grown into a key center for livestock farming and rural transformation in the Acholi sub-region. Among the first local beneficiaries is Ojok Dickson, a farmer from Angagura Trading Centre.
“I bought five cattle at a reduced price through the government program. Today, I have good-quality breeds at my farm,” Ojok says. “I get milk every day. That means daily income.”
For Ojok, cattle farming has provided something that crop farming never could which is stability and predictability. He explains that growing crops has become too risky due to changes in the weather.
“With crop farming, you don’t know what you’ll get. Rain can fail and ruin everything. But with cows, if you feed them and give them clean water, you will earn. You can never go wrong with livestock,” he explains.
He’s now calling on more people in northern Uganda, especially fellow Acholi, to embrace livestock farming not just as a tradition but as a serious economic opportunity.
“Let’s not depend only on crops. Even if you start with just a few goats or sheep, you can improve your life. Cattle ranching, especially for dairy, can change our economy if it’s well managed. It’s less affected by climate change.”
Managed by NAGRC/DB, Aswa provides subsidized livestock to farmers like Ojok, it is also offering artificial insemination services to improve local cattle breeds and creating jobs.
According to Gedson Shabwome, the ranch manager, over 3,000 improved cattle now graze on its paddocks, and plans are underway to expand into goats, pigs, sheep, and poultry, making the ranch a full livestock incubation hub.
“Our goal is to turn Aswa into a center for modern livestock farming where communities can learn, access improved breeds, and improve their incomes,” Shabwome says.
To support this, NARGC/DB has submitted a comprehensive development plan to the government, which includes building a training and learning center where local farmers and students from agricultural institutions can be taught best practices in animal husbandry.
However, challenges still exist. According to Shabwome, issues like tick infestation and livestock diseases are ongoing but are being managed through paddocking and regular spraying programs.
Despite the progress, Ojok feels more could be done to expand the benefits to others. “The government should add more money to the program,” he says.
“Right now, only a few people have benefited. We need support for more people to buy animals, and the ranch school should be renovated. We also need support for other animals like sheep, goats, and chickens.”
For now, Ojok is grateful for how far he has come, and hopeful that more of his fellow farmers will join him. “This ranch has changed my life. I now know that even after war, we can rebuild. We can grow. We just need to support each other and use the resources we have.”
Pader District Chief Administrative Officer, Michael Wangira, agrees that Aswa Ranch has the potential to transform the local economy. He emphasized the district’s commitment to supporting NAGRC/DB and called on more investment to help grow the initiative further.
From a war-ravaged ruin to a beacon of rural progress, Aswa Ranch is not just rebuilding cattle, it’s rebuilding lives.
However, the region faces ongoing challenges beyond the war’s aftermath. The Balaalo herdsmen, nomadic cattle keepers from western Uganda, have long caused problems in Northern Uganda’s Acholi sub-region by freely grazing their cattle on farmland. Their herds have destroyed crops, spread livestock diseases, and occupied land illegally, leading to conflicts with local farmers and disrupting livelihoods.
To address this persistent challenge, President Yoweri Museveni issued Executive Order No. 3 in 2023, directing the eviction of illegal cattle herders from Northern Uganda to restore order and protect farmers’ land. The presidential order aim was to end the longstanding tensions caused by uncontrolled grazing and illegal land use by the Balaalo.
The revitalization of Aswa Ranch under NAGRC/DB is now seen as the best solution for the community, providing improved livestock, training, and sustainable farming methods that empower local farmers to take control of their land and livelihoods, reduce conflicts, and promote peace and development in the region.
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