Summary:
- Lydia Balemezi, the Special Presidential Assistant on Poverty Alleviation in charge of training, emphasized that the project is part of the Bonawagagale initiative, locally known as Abaratakere.
KATAKWI: In a bid to improve the livelihoods of Ugandan households, Katakwi District has received 2,000 hybrid goats from State House under the Poverty Alleviation Project.
A total of 49 households in Omagara Village, Angodingod Sub-County, Katakwi District, have each received four goats out of the 195 allocated to the district under the initiative.
The goats were officially delivered on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, by a team from State House’s Poverty Alleviation Project.
Lydia Balemezi, the Special Presidential Assistant on Poverty Alleviation in charge of training, emphasized that the project is part of the Bonawagagale initiative, locally known as Abaratakere.
This initiative aims to restore wealth and hope among farmers, especially those who lost livestock due to raids by Karimojong cattle rustlers.
Balemezi stated that there are plans to seek additional funding from the president to further support the model farm in Angodingod, ensuring continued efforts to alleviate poverty in the region.
Esther Akello, the officer overseeing poverty alleviation projects in Uganda’s eastern region, highlighted that the goat project is designed to enhance livelihoods through the Model Village approach.
Each beneficiary received three she-goats and one improved he-goat.
The project, which has supported 39 villages, also provides other farm resources, including cows, pigs, sheep, and seeds.
Beneficiaries are required to allow the animals to multiply before selling them, and the offspring will be passed on to neighboring beneficiaries to sustain the program’s impact.
Geoffrey Omolo, the Katakwi District LCV Chairperson, commended the president’s initiative, which provides essential farm inputs.
He urged beneficiaries to take proper care of the goats to ensure their rapid multiplication and long-term benefits.
Vincent Savior Okwii, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner of Katakwi, acknowledged the president’s commitment to poverty eradication at the household level.
Vice President Jessica Rose Alupo Epel officially handed over the goats to the benefiting households.
She encouraged beneficiaries to take ownership of the project inputs for the betterment of their families and emphasized the government’s commitment to poverty reduction through sustainable programs such as Emyooga and the Parish Development Model.
She assured that additional funds would be allocated to further support those who have received government assistance.
The Vice President also highlighted programs like Emyooga, the Parish Development Model, and the Grow Project for women entrepreneurs as key strategies in the fight against poverty.
She urged beneficiaries to utilize these opportunities to secure a brighter future for themselves and their families.
Some of the beneficiaries, including Jane Francis Adong and Charles Olepa of Omagara, expressed their gratitude, stating that the support would help them educate their children and improve their overall living conditions.
