By Vision Reporter
President Yoweri Museveni has contributed 10 heifers to different development groups in Buikwe district to boost their wealth creation initiatives.
Under the State House programme dubbed: Strategic campaign on alternative sources of income generating activities to 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.
During the meeting held at Ssi-Bukunja sub-county council offices in Buikwe district, Nakiwolo, who is also the programme co-ordinator informed beneficiaries that through the initiative, President Museveni is seeking to help people in fishing communities fight poverty by creating wealth through other sources of income.
“We have started this project with Buikwe as a pilot district, where it will be enrolled in other fishing communities around the country. They will be coming to benchmark from you so ensure it succeeds,” Nakiwolo said.
She added that in other areas, they have trained and supported beneficiaries in the district with knowledge on poultry, piggery, commercial crop growing and apiculture (bee-keeping), 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 for which a calf will be passed on to another person, until all the members have received the same.
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, irrespective of their political parties. So, this project should not be politicised,” Nakiwolo said.
Use project productively The Buikwe district chairperson, Jimmy Kanaabi, who subscribes to the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), party expressed gratitude about the work of the State House in his district.
He urged beneficiaries to ensure the dairy project multiplies to benefit more people.
“We asked State House to help us with quality boats, engines and fishing gear to fish within the law,” he added, according to a release from the Presidential Press Unit.
Ssi-Bukunja sub-county LC3 chairperson Kibuuka Godfrey described the programme as a unique one that emphasises unity and togetherness.
Kibuuka called on residents, especially those in groups, to apply for Parish Development Model funds to boost their incomes.
“Everybody should have at least an acre of coffee or cocoa,” he said.
According to Bukunja Foundation chairperson Dan Kiyaga, most of the fishermen, who have faced the repercussions of illegal fishing, have moved out of the lake and haven’t settled financially.
He said the dairy projects, in addition to other State House projects in Buikwe district, are providing alternative sources of income.
One of the beneficiaries, Rehema Nalweyiso of Agali Awamu Development Group from Namukuma village, thanked Museveni for the heifers.
Earlier, Moses Migadde, a veterinary officer of Ngogwe sub-county, asked residents to gazette an area for communal spraying (crush pen) for their animals.
