KIKUUBE-President Museveni has fulfilled his pledge and donated a brand new tractor to the retired Archbishop of Church of Uganda, Stanley Ntagali to champion modern farming in his area.
Michael Christopher Ayeranga the Bunyoro region NRM mobiliser delivered the tractor with a complete unit of plaguing, planting, and weeding machines on the behalf of the president.
The 385 Massey Ferguson tractor, was handed over to Ntangali during Ayeranga’s thanksgiving ceremony that was attended by a number of dignitaries at his home in Kyakirube village in Bugambe Sub-county, Kikuube district on Monday.
President Museveni in his message delivered by Ayeranga, called on the people of Bunyoro to engage in commercial farming and increase productivity.
He challenged the people of Bunyoro to stop subsistence farming and embrace commercial agriculture, saying that through commercial farming, the country will be able to have enough food for home consumption and sale, which he added would transform households.
“The president directed me to deliver this tractor to our Archbishop, this tractor was a pledge he made to you and he is hopeful that you are going to use it to promote modern farming in your constituency.”
On the top of the tractor, Museveni donated Shs 30 million to Ntagali to help him carry out different farming activities.
While handing over the tractor to the retired Archbishop the State Minister for Public Service Grace Merry Mugasa commended Museveni for fulfilling his pledge.
She noted that the donation was an indicator that the president is ready to support Ugandans to improve their household income through farming.
She challenged the Bunyoro-Kitara kingdom subjects to embrace farming as a business.
She noted that with the ongoing oil and gas activities in the region, agricultural products are going to have market as labourers will have to eat.
Meanwhile, Ntagali was thankful to Museveni, saying the tractor, saying that the tractor will help other farmers to open up their farms.
“I thank the president [Museveni] for considering my request. This is my Christmas gift because it has come during Christmas season,” he said.
Pius Wakabi, the Bugahya County Member of Parliament underscored the need to support farmers in the region with mechanisation, saying it will help boost large commercial production and improve food security.
He noted that there is a need to have tractors at every parish to ensure that farmers get mechanisation services.
The MP said many farmers today depend on rain and hand hoe to cultivate, which according to him, is not sustainable, calling for the provision of more tractors and irrigation equipment to enable farmers produce enough food for the country.
Florence Natumanya the Kikuube district woman Member of Parliament noted that donated tractor is one of the few tractors in the district.
Peter Banura the Kikuube district boss and Steven Asera Itaza the Buhaguzi East MP said that Kikuube district has potential for agriculture but mechanisation is still a challenge.
During thanksgiving over Shs 14 million was collected and handed over to the Kyakirube Church of Uganda for the completion of construction projects.
https://thecooperator.news/amolatar-women-farmers-ask-fao-for-storage-facilities-tractors/
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