In a heartwarming display of resilience and determination, the Lwala Girls Abducted Survivors Association (LWAGASA) has partnered with the Busoga Consortium Secretariat to boost agricultural development in the Teso sub-region.
The partnership, facilitated by the Soroti City AISICAT Farmers Cooperative Society Limited (SCAFCSL), aims to promote large-scale commercial agriculture and empower women through economic empowerment initiatives.
LWAGASA, established in 2015, was born out of a tragic event in 2003 when the Lord's Resistance Army, led by Joseph Kony, abducted over 180 girls from Lwala Girls Secondary School in Kaberamaido District.
Despite the trauma and atrocities they faced, the survivors have united to rebuild their lives and are now embracing modern agricultural practices to transform their livelihoods.
"We are hopeful that this collaboration marks a turning point for survivors and their communities—one that promises dignity, self-reliance, and sustainable growth," said AISICAT Chairperson, Ms. Doreen Itola .
She expressed her gratitude to First deputy Prime Minister, Rebecca Kadaga and Vice President Jessica Alupo for their consistent support to the Lwala girls abducted survivors community, praising Kadaga as a mother figure who opened educational doors for the survivors.
The partnership will focus on commercial farming ventures, including groundnuts, soya beans, and poultry rearing.
Soya beans, in particular, have been highlighted as a major commodity, with potential for value addition through processing into soya milk, soya porridge, cooking oil, peanut candy, and chicken feed.
"The Busoga Consortium is soon introducing the rearing of Rainbow chicken variety in the Busoga model villages as part of our efforts to address household poverty," said Director General Anthony Mula.
This type of chicken is said to lay between 170–200 eggs per year, ensuring both food security and income generation. Mula encouraged the cooperative to adopt similar poultry projects for diversification.
The two cooperatives will also share experiences in modern agricultural practices, trade and market linkages, people-to-people relations, cultural relations, education, and sports.
A benchmarking visit to the Greater Kamuli Agri-business Cooperative is planned for later this year to learn from its agribusiness successes.
With over 3,000 acres of land secured in Soroti for large-scale agriculture, training, and economic projects, the future looks bright for LWAGASA and its members.
"This collaboration is a turning point for us, and we are excited to embark on this journey towards dignity, self-reliance, and sustainable growth,"Itola said.
