Buikwe District Receives Heifers from President Museveni for Wealth Creation
President Museveni’s donation of 10 heifers to development groups in Buikwe District is part of a State House initiative to promote alternative income-generating activities among fishing communities. The programme focuses on wealth creation through dairy farming and other agricultural practices.
President Yoweri Museveni has donated 10 heifers to various development groups in Buikwe District to support their wealth creation initiatives.
Under the State House programme titled “Strategic Campaign on Alternative Sources of Income Generating Activities for the Fishing Communities in Uganda,” the heifers were delivered on Friday by officials from State House, led by the President’s Assistant Private Secretary on Value Addition, Sylvia Nakiwolo.
At the meeting held at the Ssi-Bukunja Sub- County Council offices in Buikwe District, Ms. Nakiwolo, who is also the programme coordinator, informed the beneficiaries that through this initiative, President Museveni aims to assist people in fishing communities in combating poverty by creating wealth through alternative sources of income.
“We have initiated this project with Buikwe as a pilot district, with plans to expand it to other fishing communities across the country. They will come to learn from your success, so it is essential to ensure the project’s success,” Ms. Nakiwolo said.
She further added that in other areas, they have provided training and support to beneficiaries in the district on poultry, piggery, commercial crop growing, and apiculture (beekeeping), among others, as alternative sources of income-generating activities.
Under the dairy farming project, each group of 30 people is given one in-calf heifer, with the expectation that the first calf will be passed on to another member, ensuring that all group members eventually benefit.
Some of the beneficiary groups in Ssi-Bukunja Sub- County include: Agali Awamu Development Group, Ssi Trading Centre Coffee Group, Bavubuka Tukole Group, Busalwa Farmers Group, Lugala Disability Farmers Group, Koba Lubumba Piggery Group, and Lwala Tomato Farmers Group.
“The President wants to see all Ugandans join the money economy, regardless of their political affiliations. Therefore, this project should not be politicized,” Ms. Nakiwolo emphasized.
Use the project productively
The Buikwe District Chairperson, Jimmy Kanaabi, a member of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, expressed gratitude for the State House’s work in his district.
He urged the beneficiaries to ensure the dairy project expands to benefit more people.
“We requested State House to assist us with quality boats, engines, and fishing gear to enable legal fishing,” he added, according to a release from the Presidential Press Unit.
The Ssi-Bukunja Sub- County LC3 Chairperson, Mr. Kibuuka Godfrey, described the programme as unique, emphasizing unity and togetherness.
Mr. Kibuuka encouraged residents, especially those in groups, to apply for Parish Development Model funds to boost their incomes.
“Everyone should have at least an acre of coffee or cocoa,” he said.
According to the Bukunja Foundation Chairperson, Mr. Dan Kiyaga, many fishermen who have faced the consequences of illegal fishing have left the lake and are yet to stabilize financially.
He noted that the dairy projects, along with other State House projects in Buikwe District, are providing alternative sources of income.
One of the beneficiaries, Ms. Rehema Nalweyiso of Agali Awamu Development Group from Namukuma Village, expressed her gratitude to President Museveni for the heifers.
Earlier, Mr. Moses Migadde, a veterinary officer from Ngogwe Sub-county, advised residents to designate an area for communal animal spraying (crush pen).
