President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has asked Ugandans to embrace mindset change and rightful use in order to eradicate poverty.
While touring Teso Integrated Farm at Kakusi Village, Serere Town Council, in Serere District, on Monday, November 18th, 2024, President Museveni urged Ugandans to embrace the four-acre model practice for effective wealth creation.
Museveni, who kicked off his tour of Teso to assess the implementation of the Parish Development Model program and wealth creation activities, said leadership is about providing solutions to the problems of the society.
Teso Integrated Farm is owned by Joseph Ijala, a local resident of Kakusi village, Serere town council, Serere District, who started it in 2011 with a total of 35 birds.
Ijala told President Museveni that he started his farm after losing his job as a taxi conductor in Soroti, adding that he was fired from work after he had abandoned it to go and listen to Museveni’s wealth creation messages in Soroti.
“I started my small poultry farm with 35 local chickens and started expanding slowly. I now have dairy cows, giving me about 300 liters of milk. I also get about 360 trays of eggs daily from my 10,000 birds,” Ijala narrated.
He is currently doing value addition to his milk, where he makes yogurt and other products on a small scale, adding that he gets about Shs600 million net profit yearly.
President Museveni also agreed to donate to Ijala’s farm a new yogurt processing machine at the cost of Shs150 million to improve value addition; he also donated Shs10 million to Ijala’s family.
Currently, Ijala employs about 38 people and is also using his farm to train other progressive farmers in the area.
He thanked President Museveni for restoring peace and stability in the country, which has enabled him and others to exercise their talent in farming.
“I don’t regret losing my job because it helped me to secure messages of wisdom to create wealth. You have always given us the young people free wisdom to chase away poverty,” Ijala said.
He also currently trains other farmers on dairy farming and poultry keeping.
“I have also secured some 35 acres of land made from the current farm. Mr. President, I request you to support us with dairy products processing machines,” said Ijala.
President Museveni said poverty can only be eradicated with commitment and sacrifice, adding that those who listened to wealth creation messages have become rich.
Museveni noted that those with large land can still combine both extensive and intensive enterprises to get more money.
He cautioned Ugandans against land fragmentation, saying it’s the reason most people have remained in poverty.
While in the region, President Museveni will tour successful farms and meet with the local leaders to deliver wealth creation messages.
