Kamuli, Uganda: Farmers in Kamuli District have received 50,000 chicks, heifers, pigs and improved goats under a government-led intervention aimed at reducing household poverty and transforming livelihoods across the Busoga sub-region.
The livestock inputs were distributed by the National Animal Genetic Resources and Data Bank (NAGRIC & DB) as part of efforts to scale up livestock production, boost household incomes and accelerate the transition of rural communities into the money economy.
The consignment was officially delivered by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, at Government Kasolwe Stock Farm in Kamuli District. Kadaga received the livestock from officials of NAGRIC & DB and Uganda First, the supplier agency.
The package comprised 50,000 chicks, 20 crossbreed heifers, 178 pigs and 165 Brown Kasolwe goats, an improved breed developed by NAGRIC scientists at Kasolwe Stock Farm.
Speaking during the handover, Kadaga, who also serves as the Kamuli District Woman Member of Parliament, said the intervention reflects the government’s commitment to revitalising stock farms to support household income growth directly.
“The Government agreed to rejuvenate all stock farms in Uganda to support communities to scale up household incomes. I am happy that this dream is now taking shape,” Kadaga said.
She urged beneficiaries to carefully manage the livestock inputs, particularly ensuring proper feeding and vaccination of the chicks to prevent disease outbreaks.
“Care should be taken with the pigs, heifers and goats as guided by the supplier agency technocrats,” she added.
Kasolwe Stock Farm Manager, Daniel Epinyu, encouraged farmers to embrace the Brown Kasolwe goat, describing it as resilient to harsh climatic conditions, drought-tolerant, strong-limbed for all terrains, and capable of producing up to four kids per year.
Tony Namitego, a model farmer from Magogo Village and Chairperson of Buzaaya County Farmers, praised NAGRIC & DB and the NRM government for prioritising poverty reduction. “A government that prioritises enhancing human development through poverty reduction interventions is the best for Ugandans,” he said after receiving 200 chicks.
Uganda First Communications Officer Awali Waiswa said beneficiaries included 139 farmers’ associations drawn from Buzaaya, Bugabula North, Bugabula South and Kamuli Municipality.
Kasolwe Stock Farm was revamped in 2017 under a Shs59 billion government project to revitalise livestock farming in Busoga and turn the facility into a Centre of Livestock Excellence for the region.
Since then, 124 heifers have been imported for crossbreeding, with farmers and organisations such as Operation Wealth Creation (OWC), Send a Cow and Volunteer Efforts for Development Concerns (VEDCO) accessing improved livestock from the farm.
The facility also hosts broiler and kuroiler parent stock and operates two high-capacity incubators producing chicks for free distribution to households to improve nutrition and incomes. The dual-purpose birds lay between 150 and 200 eggs compared to about 40 from indigenous breeds and reach market weights of between 2 and 3.5 kilogrammes within four to five months.
With a projected output of 10,000 chicks per week, NAGRIC & DB is expected to supply more than 250,000 free chicks every six months.
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