President Kaguta Museveni on Tuesday resumed his assessment tour of the Parish Development Model (PDM) implementation, this time visiting the Ankole sub-region.
Starting with the districts of Rubirizi, Sheema, and Ibanda, Museveni was particularly impressed by Desiranta Tumusiime, a 58-year-old farmer from Rubirizi, who has turned her Shs 1 million PDM funding from 2023 into approximately Shs 6 million.
Tumusiime shared how she invested the money:
“I received Shs 1 million in my account and withdrew Shs 980,000. I used Shs 300,000 to buy a pig, Shs 90,000 for feeds, Shs 150,000 for housing, and Shs 400,000 to purchase goats, leaving me with Shs 40,000,” she said.
Her pig has since given birth twice, with each litter producing nine piglets.
“After five months, my pig was ready for mating. The first time, it gave birth to nine piglets, and I sold five at Shs 100,000 each. The second time, it had nine piglets, and I sold eight females, keeping one male. Currently, I have five pigs and five goats, with one goat and one pig pregnant,” Tumusiime added.
In Sheema, Museveni visited Pamoja Mixed Farm, owned by Honest Abenawe, a former principal human resource officer in Mitooma District, and her husband, the current Kasese Municipality town clerk. The couple has expanded their farm from 1½ acres and two cows to 20 acres and 20 cows.
“We started with 1½ acres, planted bananas, and practiced zero grazing with two cows. During the dry season, we fed the cows with bananas and used cow dung as manure,” Abenawe explained.
She credited the farm’s success to the four-acre model promoted by President Museveni.
“When someone has four acres, they can’t be poor. We currently have 16 to 20 acres, and as a family, we no longer struggle with challenges requiring Shs 6 million,” she noted.
The farm has generated a gross income of Shs 203,418,000, with a net income of Shs 144,900,000 after expenses, including wages for 30 workers.
“We have 20 cows, 12 of which are milking, producing 180 liters of milk daily. We sell 150 liters to Kabwohe, Sheema Municipal Council, and locals at Shs 1,500 per liter,” Abenawe said.
“In 2024, we earned Shs 95 million in gross income from dairy products. After spending Shs 31 million, we remained with Shs 63 million in net income.”
The banana plantation yields 600 bunches per month, harvested every two weeks at an average price of Shs 15,000 per bunch.
“In 2024, we earned Shs 82 million in gross income from bananas. After deducting Shs 22 million in expenses, we had Shs 60 million in net income,” she explained.
The farm also engages in coffee farming, earning Shs 15 million, fish farming (Shs 6 million with Shs 3.6 million in net income after feeding costs), and apiculture, which generated Shs 3.4 million after deducting Shs 600,000 in expenses.
Impressed by their efforts, President Museveni gifted the farmers a canter vehicle worth Shs 80 million and 10 high-breed cows valued at Shs 8 million each.
“Jane, please ensure they get the Shs 80 million canter and the high-breed cows. These can’t fail me,” Museveni instructed State House Controller Jane Barekye.
The President is set to visit Mbarara and Bushenyi districts on Wednesday to launch a presidential industrial skilling hub and hold a meeting with Ankole sub-region leaders.