Pallisa, Uganda: Agule County MP David Ochwa has rolled out a hoe distribution programme targeting women across six sub-counties, framing it as part of President Yoweri Museveni’s call for household income growth and food security under the NRM’s fourth pillar of socio-economic transformation.
Ochwa, who also serves as NRM Secretary General for Pallisa District, said each village will see at least 100 women, wives, and widows as a priority, receive hoes, with larger villages getting up to 150. The legislator noted that the tool, modestly valued at UGX 10,000, could multiply into UGX 150,000 if used productively on crops like potatoes.
“I am fully responsible to ensure you have food in your households and money to sort your basic needs,” Ochwa told residents of Chelekura Sub-county. “President Museveni will be the happiest man if communities embrace production. That is why he has given us programmes like Emyooga, UWEP, Youth Livelihood, and now PDM.”
Pressed on why the programme targeted women first rather than men who own land, Ochwa explained that the initiative would be expanded to all categories, but he was piloting with women because of their household role in food security. “This is only the start. The youth and men will also be covered,” he said.
Rose Akurut, a beneficiary from Chelekura ‘A’ village, welcomed the gesture, calling it timely. “I used to borrow a bigger hoe from a neighbour to heap potatoes. Now I own one and was also given a bar of soap. I am joyous,” she said.
The MP also used the event to reaffirm his 2026 political ambitions, urging voters to remain steadfast behind both himself and President Museveni.
“Forget the mess in our NRM primaries. I will be on the ballot and will mobilise for President Museveni and myself. For now, let’s focus on production and tree planting,” he added.
The initiative has already swayed political loyalties. Charles Emuron Ekweny, who previously coordinated for Bishop Oullo Simon Peter in the NRM primaries, announced he had crossed to Ochwa’s camp, citing the MP’s “practical acts.”
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
