The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), has distributed 50,000 hand hoes to farmers in Mubende District in a move aimed at boosting agricultural production.
According to Edson Ssali, the Principal Assistant Secretary who represented the Chief Administrative Officer, the district leadership has already guided sub-county chiefs on how the hoes will be shared.
“Today we have distributed 50,000 hoes to all our nineteen lower local governments in the district. These hoes were received from MAAIF to help our farmers, and we have guided our officers on how to distribute them,” Ssali said.
He added that each household will receive one hand hoe, but those who previously benefited from the Parish Development Model (PDM) will not be considered.
“We know we have more than 150,000 households in the district, but we shall target those that did not benefit from government programmes. We have a number of programmes like PDM, Emyooga and others, and many of our people have benefited, so we shall only consider those who have not yet benefited,” Ssali explained.
The Resident District Commissioner for Mubende, Fred Nayebare Kyamuzigita, cautioned sub-county chiefs against favouring relatives during the exercise.
“Avoid giving these hoes only to your relatives. Please consider the people in your communities and make sure each household is given one hoe,” Kyamuzigita said.
He noted that the initiative is intended to improve agricultural productivity and support families in their efforts to eradicate poverty.
“The President has moved across the country teaching people how to fight poverty. We should not keep reminding you. Please use these hoes to increase production and fight poverty,” he added.
Kyamuzigita also warned beneficiaries against selling the hoes and spending the proceeds on alcohol, urging them instead to use the tools productively during the planting season.
“Do not sell these hoes and go for alcohol. We want you to use them in your gardens, especially since it is the planting season,” he said.
He revealed that the distribution had initially been scheduled during the campaign period but was halted following criticism from the opposition.
“We sat as a security committee and decided to first allow the political period to end because some people were saying the President wanted to bribe voters. He won Mubende with 71 percent, and now we can distribute these hoes to our farmers,” Kyamuzigita explained.
He emphasised the need for more hand hoes, noting that Mubende District has over 150,000 households. He thanked elected Members of Parliament who pledged additional support.
“Our elected Members of Parliament, such as Dedan Mubangizi of Buwekula South, pledged 10,000 hoes, and David Kabanda of Kassambya pledged 20,000 hoes. We shall also distribute them so that our people can continue benefiting,” he said.
Mubende District is predominantly agricultural, with more than 80 percent of its population depending on farming for their livelihood.