Kamuli distributes 97,000 hoes to boost food production, fight famine

Kamuli, Uganda: Kamuli District Local Government has distributed 97,000 hoes to residents and institutions as part of efforts to boost food production, fight hunger, promote school feeding and support households to participate in the money economy.

The hoes were handed over to local leaders at a function held at the district headquarters. The leaders will oversee their distribution to beneficiaries in their respective areas.

Kamuli Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Mr Badru Ssentongo, urged beneficiaries to put the farm tools to productive use and ensure that the government intervention achieves its intended purpose.

“I ask those who are going to receive these hoes to use them properly. These are meant to increase production in our homes and ensure that no family goes hungry,” Ssentongo said.

Kamuli District LCV Chairperson Kaloli Dhizaala said the distribution was part of a broader effort to address food insecurity in the district. He said government schools would also receive hoes to establish and maintain gardens, with the produce expected to support school feeding.

“Each government school will receive 50 hoes to support school gardens. We also want to remind leaders who will distribute these hoes not to be corrupt. Make sure they reach the intended and potential beneficiaries,” Dhizaala said.

Kamuli Deputy Resident District Commissioner Mafumo Adonia said the distribution was also intended to support the government’s efforts to move households from subsistence farming into the money economy.

He said programmes such as the Parish Development Model could help households increase production, sell surplus produce and earn an income.

“Government wants people to get into the money economy. Through programmes like PDM, these hoes will help people produce more, sell the surplus and earn money,” Mafumo said.

Local leaders, including LCIII chairpersons, district councillors, boda boda leaders and journalists, received the hoes on behalf of their respective communities.

Richard Mutuuya, the LCIII Chairperson of Namasagali Sub-county, thanked the government for supporting farmers and urged fellow leaders to ensure that the hoes reach the intended beneficiaries.

The function was attended by the Busoga Sub-region Wealth Creation Coordinator, Col Mubarak Nkuutu, the District Internal Security Officer, Abas Bukenya, the District Production Officer and other stakeholders.

Officials said monitoring teams would follow up on the distribution exercise to ensure the hoes are put to proper use and that government schools establish gardens as planned.