LIRA CITY, November 4, 2026 — Cultural leaders from various parts of Uganda have urged young people to embrace the four-acre model of farming as a practical way of fighting household poverty, creating wealth and improving household incomes.
The call was made during a visit to City Gate Mixed Farm in Lira City by the Lango Paramount Chief [Won Nyaci Me Lango], Dr Eng Moses Michael Odongo Okune, accompanied by the Acholi Paramount Chief [Rwot], David Onen Acana II; Jopadhola Cultural Institution Prime Minister [Jago], Josel Richard Obbo; Baruuli Cultural Institutions king [Isabaruli], His Royal Highness Constantine Mwogezi Butamanya; and other clan leaders from the Lango Cultural Institution.
City Gate Mixed Farm, a four-acre model farm, operates several agricultural enterprises, including dairy farming, poultry, coffee, banana production and pasture establishment. It also produces organic manure from cow dung and poultry droppings and promotes youth employment through agricultural activities.
The four-acre model is an initiative of President Yoweri Museveni aimed at promoting household wealth creation and employment, increasing incomes through say growing coffee, food crops, dairy farming, and growing of pasture, with each enterprise taking up an acre.
Speaking during the visit, Odongo commended the farm’s management for demonstrating how a small piece of land can be used productively to generate wealth.
He said cultural institutions were committed to supporting efforts to translate President Yoweri Museveni’s four-acre model message into practical action to address poverty among communities.
“We are very happy with what we have seen at this farm. What we have agreed upon today, following our discussions, is to put the President’s message on the four-acre model into action. We are united in the fight against poverty because we want to lift our people out of poverty by making productive use of the land,” Odongo said.
He urged young people to resist the temptation to sell off family land after the death of their parents, advising them instead to use it for productive agricultural activities.
“Young people, stop selling the land your fathers leave behind. Instead, put it to productive use so that you can generate income and build wealth from it,” he said.
Obbo said he was impressed by the diversity of agricultural enterprises operating on the farm, noting that it demonstrated that the four-acre model could be implemented without owning vast expanses of land.
“I am honoured to be part of this visit. This is a unique farm, and I have never seen such a compact piece of land supporting so many different agricultural enterprises. I am excited because I have learnt a lot,” he said.
He said many people in the Jopadhola community often complained about limited access to land, yet City Gate Mixed Farm had demonstrated how even a small piece of land could support several income-generating activities.
“I was particularly surprised to learn that this enterprise is only about a year old and is probably approaching its second year. It shows what can be achieved when land is put to productive use,” Obbo said.
He called on community leaders to organise visits to the farm to enable more people to acquire practical agricultural knowledge and learn how to establish similar enterprises.
“Many times, we talk to our people using theories, but I believe that when we bring them here to see what is happening, they will leave with a different mindset. We intend to bring our people here to learn because this is practical knowledge that can transform communities,” he said.
Obbo also encouraged young people to embrace the four-acre model, saying its success depended on passion, commitment and the willingness to work.
“It should not be the cultural leaders alone taking the lead in this. The passion you have demonstrated is something our young people should emulate. They need to develop the same commitment and courage to venture into agriculture,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Acholi Paramount Chief, Onen, said cultural leaders would continue encouraging young people to work hard and adopt productive agricultural practices as a means of achieving economic independence.
He described the visit as an important learning experience that would help him promote the four-acre model among communities in Acholi.
“This visit has given me an important lesson to take home. We have been encouraging our people, especially the youth, to work hard because without hard work, they cannot build wealth for themselves and their families. This is the way to go,” Onen said.
“We shall not allow the knowledge we have gained here to end with this visit. We shall put it into practice, particularly through training and sensitisation. Among the Acholi, we believe that travelling is an opportunity to learn, and I have learnt a lot today. I am determined to put these lessons into practice,” he added.
The Chief Administrative Officer of City Gate Mixed Farm, Pius Olam, pledged that the farm would continue supporting agricultural transformation by equipping communities, particularly young people, with practical farming knowledge.
He said the visit by cultural leaders demonstrated the growing support of traditional institutions for agriculture as a means of fighting poverty.
“The visit to City Gate Mixed Farm, which operates under the four-acre model, demonstrates the support cultural institutions are giving to agriculture. We pledge to continue inspiring young people and showing them the right path so that, together, we can drive poverty out of our communities,” Olam said.
He urged Ugandans to embrace the model, emphasising that agricultural success required personal initiative, commitment and a long-term vision.
“I want everyone to understand that you are 100 per cent responsible for your own life. No one will come to save you; you must take responsibility for your future. This is a passion-driven enterprise that requires commitment and determination,” he said.
“I would love to see more Ugandans joining the agricultural sector as farmers so that we can collectively produce enough food to feed the nation,” Olam added.
https://thecooperator.news/museveni-commends-model-farmer-for-embracing-four-acre-model-farming/
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