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Jowel Okello, a successful farmer from Amolatar District, has been praised by President Yoweri Museveni for his remarkable transformation from selling alcohol to running a thriving agribusiness. Starting with family land in 2016, Okello now owns over 300 cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, and various crops, and employs 18 permanent staff.

President Yoweri Museveni has hailed Jowel Okello, a model farmer in Amolatar District, as a shining example of wealth creation and self-reliance. Okello, who started with family land, now owns over 300 cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, and various crops, making him one of the most successful farmers in the region.

Museveni, accompanied by First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Janet Museveni, visited Okello’s farm on Tuesday as part of his assessment tour of the Parish Development Model (PDM) in the Lango sub-region. The President praised Okello’s determination and urged leaders to teach people how to fight poverty by utilizing their land.

“I’m very happy that our son Jowel is not sleeping. Supporting him is easy,” Museveni said, promising to provide him with solar power, a water pump, and a tractor. He noted that Uganda has vast resources, but poverty persists due to what he termed as “oversleeping.”

First Lady Janet Museveni commended Okello and his wife for working together, saying their teamwork was an example for families across Uganda. “If every family adopts the same culture, Africa will never lack,” she said.

Okello attributed his success to hard work and the President’s wealth creation message. He urged his family to preserve their land, recognizing its long-term benefits. “Even if I’m not there tomorrow, please don’t divide this land, because I know the benefit,” he said.

Starting his farm in 2016 after retiring from National Water, Okello now employs 18 permanent staff. Inspired by Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Balaba Muheesi, he transitioned from selling alcohol for school fees to leading a thriving agribusiness.

“I went to the market. Someone who has kept a cow for two years is selling it at Shs 250,000. I’m selling a goat for eight months at Shs 500,000. We must invest in changing the mindset of the people. We have a lot of opportunities in northern Uganda,” he emphasized.

Local leaders, including Amolatar LC5 Chairman Geoffrey Ocen Kiring and Kioga County MP Moses Okot B’tek, praised Okello’s achievements and urged the government to improve infrastructure to support economic growth.

The President’s tour continues with visits to selected farmers, the launch of a zonal industrial hub, and community engagements aimed at promoting wealth creation initiatives.