In a boost aimed at modernising agriculture and empowering women-led farming groups, Buyende District Woman MP Mary Annet Nakato has handed over a tractor and Shs150 million to the Irundu Farmers Link Chain Food Association Ltd.
Addressing farmers at the handover, Ms Nakato said the equipment and funding are meant to help rural women transition from traditional to commercial farming models.
"I know it will be challenging to use this one tractor among our 150 groups, but as women, we're not selfish. We'll rotate its use while continuing to lobby for more support. This is just the beginning," she said.
She called for a mindset shift in the way agriculture is practised, urging women to treat it as a business rather than a survival tactic.
“Let’s transition from rain-fed to irrigation farming and engage in productive work to gain economic empowerment and liberation from dependency,” Ms Nakato said.
She encouraged women to actively engage in government development programmes such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), to scale their operations and reclaim leadership roles in their communities.
“As the primary food production hub, you should participate in government programmes, take on leadership roles, and influence decisions from within to regain your positions,” she said.
Ms Hope Kyomuhendo, chairperson of the Irundu Farmers Link Chain Food Association, welcomed the intervention as a turning point for local women.
"Without relying on men for everything, women will gain autonomy, respect, and dignity, liberating us from bondage," she said.
She also cautioned the community against politicising development and urged residents to embrace unity and shared progress.
The event drew wide praise from farmers and local leaders, who hailed Ms Nakato for her consistent support to agricultural initiatives in the district.
Many noted that her advocacy for mechanisation and access to funding has opened new doors for smallholder farmers, especially women.
“This is how real change begins—from the ground up, with tools in hand and support that recognises the value of women in agriculture,” said one local farmer.
The tractor and funds are expected to increase productivity, support shared access to machinery, and improve livelihoods, especially among women groups previously left behind in the agricultural value chain.
As Buyende farmers begin this new phase, leaders say the initiative could serve as a model for effective grassroots empowerment—where leadership, resources, and local action converge to transform rural economies.