Pallisa, Uganda: A community savings initiative in Pallisa District that began with members saving just Shs300 a day has grown into a thriving 290-member poultry enterprise, helping families transition from subsistence farming to income-generating commercial agriculture.
The Hatch for Wealth project, founded by social worker and Crane Financial Services Director Emmanuel Oboi, is promoting poultry farming as a practical pathway to wealth creation by combining a savings culture with affordable livestock production.
Oboi said the initiative was born out of a desire to address persistent poverty in Bukedi Sub-region, particularly in Pallisa District, by encouraging communities to embrace entrepreneurship and financial discipline.
“Bukedi, specifically Pallisa, needed a diverse approach to change mindsets and enable people to look at things positively,” he noted.
The project initially encouraged participants to save just Shs300 daily, creating a culture of financial discipline before introducing poultry farming as a viable enterprise.
According to Oboi, poultry was selected because it requires relatively little land and startup capital, making it suitable for a wide range of households. “This project will change lives. It will improve nutrition and provide income through egg sales at Shs400 each.”
He noted that poultry farming is ideal for women, youth, older persons and persons with disabilities, particularly in areas where land fragmentation limits other agricultural activities.
“Poultry doesn’t need much land, given land fragmentation. It works for everyone, persons with disabilities, women and the elderly. We also want youth to take it up instead of wasting their energy.”
Farmers trained on profitable poultry keeping
Participants also received practical training from senior poultry trainer Erina Mooka, who guided farmers on best management practices for profitable poultry production.
She advised farmers to maintain the correct stocking density, recommending 10 broilers per square metre and five to six layers per square metre, while ensuring proper ventilation and keeping litter dry to reduce the risk of bacterial and viral diseases.
For rural households with limited resources, Mooka recommended Noiler and Kuroiler breeds because they produce both eggs and meat. “You get both eggs and meat from the same flock. You don’t need two separate breeds,” she explained.
She said dual-purpose breeds reduce startup costs because farmers do not need to invest separately in broilers and layers and can begin with as few as 10 to 20 birds.
Dispelling common misconceptions, Mooka said improved chicken breeds are affordable to maintain. “Don’t believe poultry is hard to keep and eats too much. Average feed is 60 grams per bird per day. That’s about nine kilograms per month for five chickens.”
She encouraged farmers to maintain proper hygiene, dry poultry litter regularly and allow birds time to scavenge.
Mooka also assured farmers of a ready market for their produce. “Even if you produce 100 million eggs, we have buyers at Shs400 per egg. Just reach out.”
Poultry transforming livelihoods
The project has already produced several success stories.
Peter Okiria from Gogonyo Sub-county said he started with just 10 chickens in 2010 after attending poultry training in Buganda and now manages a flock of 1,500 birds. “I get a minimum of 39 trays of eggs a day. I’ve also learned how to brood chicks.”
Participant Betty Adongo said the training had changed her perception of improved poultry breeds. “I used to think improved chickens eat too much. This training proved me wrong.”
Meanwhile, Thomas Opus from Omaulon Village in Kibale Town Council said the savings programme had transformed not only household incomes but also family relationships.
“When we started saving Shs300, I increased mine to Shs600 daily. I will sell my goat for Shs180,000 to buy 120 one-month-old chicks.”
He added that the initiative has helped reduce household conflicts, including domestic violence, by creating new sources of family income.
As more families embrace the Hatch for Wealth initiative, organisers believe the combination of disciplined savings and small-scale poultry farming can become a powerful tool for reducing poverty and improving household livelihoods across Pallisa and the wider Bukedi Sub-region.
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