Kikuube women appeal for tractors to boost commercial farming
KIKUUBE, July 21, 2025 — Women leaders in Kikuube district have appealed to President Yoweri Museveni to support agricultural mechanisation by providing tractors to help them engage in commercial farming.
Sarah Kayonza, Chairperson of the Kikuube District Women Council, said government had promised to provide a tractor two years ago, but the pledge has not been fulfilled.
“We need support in the form of tractors, irrigation equipment, and juice-processing machines to help us practise modern, large-scale farming and value addition,” she said.
Kayonza noted that many women farming groups in the district grow maize, beans, coffee, and fruits, but lack the machinery required to cultivate on a large scale. Most of them still rely on hand hoes, which severely limits their productivity.
She said that despite submitting a formal request to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries [MAAIF], they have yet to receive a response. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja had also promised to follow up on the matter last year, but the women say they are still waiting for a positive outcome.
“Hiring private tractors is too expensive for most of us. As a result, we often miss planting seasons, which affects our harvests. If supported with proper mechanisation, we could produce enough for both consumption and commercial purposes,” Kayonza said.
She also called for government support in providing irrigation equipment, citing climate change and unpredictable rainfall as major challenges for farmers.
“We’re growing fruits like mangoes, passion fruit, and oranges, but without juice-processing machines, much of our produce goes to waste,” she added.
Florence Natumanya, Kikuube District Woman Member of Parliament, echoed the call for mechanisation, noting that many hardworking women farmers are trapped in poverty due to a lack of modern farming tools.
“Before Kikuube was carved out of Hoima District, women in the area benefited from government tractors. Since the creation of Kikuube, however, those resources have remained in Hoima,” she said.
The concerns were raised during celebrations to mark the belated International Women’s Day held recently at Ruguse Primary School in Kyamasuka Village, Bugambe Sub-county.
Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba, who attended the event as Chief Guest on behalf of the Prime Minister, pledged to forward the women’s requests to the Minister for Agriculture.
Kikuube District is home to more than 300,000 people, the majority of whom depend on agriculture, particularly coffee, cocoa, maize, and sugarcane, for their livelihoods.
https://thecooperator.news/kikuube-residents-decry-poor-state-of-roads/
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